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Dental Anxiety Is No Laughing Matter

We'd like to offer one comforting and wonderful fact about today's dentistry: it's much less stressful than it used to be.

Technology, new procedures, and some very sophisticated approaches to dental anesthesia have all contributed to comfortable dentistry, from cleaning to cavity preparations to root canals.

But what if you didn't grow up with modern dentistry, and remember it differently?

If you have had difficult dental experiences, you may be among the 150 million Americans who white-knuckle their way through treatment, or avoid the dentist altogether. The fact is, about 80% of the fearful can overcome dental phobia, with a little help from conscious sedation.

Many dentists understand dental fear and where it comes from. And many are becoming trained in forming good working relationships with fearful patients. Your dentist should encourage you to voice your anxiety and discuss your problems with him or her, before he or she touches a tooth in your mouth.

They should listen to your needs, and agree on small things that help you maintain a sense of control - a hand signal works with some patients. But talking about fear with your dentist - being assertive and letting him or her know what bothers you - is the first step.

If you're moderately anxious, the dental team can provide distracting diversions to put those concerns to rest. If you're extremely anxious, they can virtually put anxiety to rest via oral sedation. This approach involves taking a mild sedative before you arrive for your appointment. You remain awake, but extremely relaxed - so relaxed that many patients have all their needed dental work completed in a single office visit. If dental anxiety has kept you from making an appointment you know is needed - a sedation dentist can help!

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.

Sedation Dentistry: The New Anxiety-Free Dentistry

It's called sedation dentistry (performed by a specially trained dentist called a sedation dentist), and it may well be the greatest advance ever made towards truly comfortable and anxiety free dentistry procedures.

For a lot of people, the unpleasantness of a dental appointment isn't so much fear as it is stress from that "in-your-face" aspect of the procedure.

We all have our own sense of personal space. And when hands and tools enter the mouth, as they must, the feeling can get downright claustrophobic. Fortunately, there's an antidote to this problem, anxiety-free dentistry!

Here's how sedation dentistry works

After an initial consultation with a sedation dentist you'll take a medication just before your next visit. You'll need a friend to help transport you to and from the office safely.

When you arrive for your appointment you'll be awake, but drowsy. Most important, you'll be relaxed and anxiety free. While you're in the chair, the sedation dentist and team monitors you closely. You won't be unconscious, you'll just enjoy a soothing mental and emotional "distance" from the goings on.

Next thing you'll know, your dentist is telling you the procedure is complete and it is time to go home - thanks to anxiety-free dentistry.

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.