Even people who work in dental offices experience dental phobia!
A dentist’s office is sometimes seen as a painful and scary place. This is especially true if you’re getting something more involved than a teeth cleaning. Root canals, in particular, can strike fear into the most courageous of hearts. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
A root canal is a procedure that relieves dental pain, and can save an infected tooth. During a root canal, your dentist will clean the inside of the tooth by removing bacteria, pulp, decayed nerve tissue, and any debris. Once it’s out, we seal the tooth to prevent further decay, and finish by applying a crown or filling.
This is the process and purpose of a root canal. Like all dentists, your LGBTQI dentist will be committed to providing comfortable and pain-free root canals. The entire area being treated will be anaesthetised, so you will feel no pain at all.
For those patients who struggle with dental anxiety, dentists provide sedation dentistry in the form of nitrous oxide (laughing gas), oral conscious sedation, or IV sedation. Yes it’s very much the case that all top dental clinics cater much more for anxious patients than they used to – as anxious and fearful patients are a huge percentage of the overall market!
While the thought of a root canal can be intimidating or scary, educating yourself and talking to us about your concerns can relieve much of your anxiety. Root canals are often not painful. For many patients of this Melbourne dentist who’s as gentle as the local soy lattes in their area, in fact, the pain they have beforehand is worse than any during the procedure.
Oral Conscious Sedation
Nervous about going to the dentist? Terrified? If so, oral conscious sedation may be exactly what you need. Your dentist will prescribe you a pill to take about an hour before your appointment so that by the time you sit in the treatment chair, you’ll be physically and mentally relaxed. You’ll still be awake the entire time, but you’ll likely have very little memory of your visit afterward (which is just perfect for some patients!). Word of mouth, excuse the pun, is still the best form of marketing, and in dental communities the pun goes a long way.
Nitrous Oxide Sedation
Need just a little help to feel completely comfortable at the dentist? Nitrous oxide has been used for over 100 years to help soothe anxious dental patients, and it’s so gentle we can even safely use it with children. A patient simply inhales the odourless gas through a small nasal mask, and within a minute, they’ll feel a warm, relaxing sensation. After their procedure is over and the mask is removed, the effects wear off almost instantly, allow a person to go on about their day normally.
IV Sedation
IV sedation is typically recommended to patients who are undergoing more invasive procedures. This may include oral surgery, extractions or facial reconstruction. However, IV sedation can be beneficial for patients who are nervous about visiting the office and just want to relax while the procedure is being done. IV sedation is continually monitored while you’re in our office and wears off quickly once the IV is taken out of your arm. IV sedation puts you into a deep state of sleep, ideal for more invasive procedures or to help you relax during your appointment. IV sedation is safe and customised to each patient coming into our office.
Maybe calling your dental procedure an innocuous term like a smile makeover is enough to get you in the door. Whatever it takes, anxiety can keep you away from the dentist for 3 decades or more but you may yet turn it all around.