Even in this day and age, there are still many people who are deathly afraid of going to the dentist. For them, sitting in the dentist’s chair is one of their worst fears! It may seem odd to those of us who are happy to visit the dentist but for people who are afraid, it can quite literally mean that they are neglecting their dental health out of fear.
Why Do People Fear the Dentist?
If you are one of those unfortunate people who is frightened of going to the dentist, it is probably that you are fearful of the potential pain. The thought of injections and dental tools most likely sends a shiver up your spine and even assurances that modern dentistry has vastly improved is not enough to convince you otherwise. If this sounds familiar, sedation dentistry might just be for you.
The Benefits of Being Sedated
It might seem odd to think about being sedated when in the dentist’s chair but the fact is that when we are afraid of something, our threshold for pain actually decreases. This leads to more sensations of pain and even a hypersensitivity to pain. This simply produces an unhelpful feedback loop that does not do anything to exorcise those fears of the dentist.
During sedation dentistry, the dental professional will administer specific anesthetizing injections that will block pain receptors. He or she may even administer tablets that help the patient to feel more relaxed or even have him or her breathe some nitrous oxide so that he or she feels less anxious. There are even cases in which a specially trained dentist may inject the patient with a general anesthetic.
Apart from the fact that sedated patients are more likely to feel more comfortable when sitting in the dentist’s chair, the primary benefit is that their dental health can be addressed rather than neglected due to their fears.
If you are afraid of going to the dentist, don’t put off your oral health because of it. Call on (785) 331 0027 today to organize an appointment. You can connect with them on Facebook for more information.
