How Can Dental Anxiety Be Treated?
Many start to feel anxious or fearful before a dental appointment. Visiting their dentist can cause some people distress which may lead to them missing their appointment.
It is advised to make regular dental check-ups as they are important for our oral well-being. Dental or hygienist appointments are usually pain free however even the thought of the dentist can put patients off, this sort of stress is usually brought on by dental phobia or anxiety.
At our dental clinic in Glasgow we do the best that we can to provide our patients with a relaxing atmosphere before and during their treatments. Find out more about what dental anxiety is and how it can be treated below.
Do you suffer from Dental Phobia?
For those who are unbothered by attending the dentist, they might not understand the struggle some patients face going to the dentist.
Those who suffer from dental phobia are terrified of visiting the dentist. Many sufferers won’t even go as far as the waiting room as the sound of drilling may set their fear off, others cancel in advance as they cannot face the embarrassment.
If you are avoiding dental treatment, this may lead to oral health problems like disease and decay. Mentally, phobias can also be harmful as the unhygienic appearance of your teeth could you to feel self-conscious about your mouth.
Dental phobia is a spiral that many cannot climb out of and sufferers will go years without visiting their dentist.
Why Do Patients Avoid the Dentist?
Dental anxiety is actually very common in western society. 15% of Americans avoid going to the dentist as they suffer from dental anxiety or fear, that is on average 30 million to 40 million people suffering!
In the UK the problem is much worse – The British Dental Health Foundation have discovered that 36% of patients who don’t get their teeth checked regularly said that fear was the main reason they never went to the dentist. If you are suffering from these symptoms one dentist Glasgow team can help you!
How Can Dental Anxiety Be Treated?
One of the ways patients can be treated is through Dental Hypnosis. Hypnosis is an underused tool in dentistry as provides an effective stress release for patients.
It is highly recommended for patients who are either suffering or recovering from dental anxiety. Medical sedation is short term and may be helpful for a single procedure, however, hypnosis can offer excellent sedation in a physiological way.
Conscious Sedation in Glasgow
Conscious sedation is often used to reduce patient anxiety during dental procedures. ‘Sedation’ is simply a ‘a technique in which the use of a drug or drugs produces a state of depression of the central nervous system’ (Wylie Report 1978).
Verbal contact is still continued during the sedation and though intravenous and oral sedation may cause some patients amnesia, they will remain ‘conscious’. For more information on Inhalation Sedation, the award winning dentist Dr Mike Gow explains what are the key benefits of it below:
Pain Free Dentistry Glasgow
Speaking to a dentist at our Glasgow dental practice will be your first step to recovery. One of our dentists will be able to discuss your treatment options and will do whatever they can to make your treatment as pain free as possible.
Create goals for yourself which will motivate you to move forward with your dentistry treatment. At Berkeley Clinic Glasgow we would be more than happy to help you through this process providing you with high quality dental treatment which will be personalised for you making it as comfortable as it can be.
Remember your treatment will go at the pace you want it to and we are here to help. Call us today for more information on our dental anxiety clinic.
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