For most people, going to the family dentist is fairly routine. Having a cavity filled usually takes less than an hour and then you're on your way. Some people, however, are terrified to go to the dentist. Bad experiences in the past, a phobia of needles, or general anxiety makes the very idea seem horrible. Fortunately, sufferers of dental phobia do not have to sit back and helplessly watch their teeth rot. Here are a few ways a family dentist in St. Paul can calm your nerves and provide the services you need: Sedation Dentistry You don't have to worry about calming yourself down when you have sedation dentistry – drugs will do the calming for you. The strength of these drugs depends on how anxious you are and your general medical status. Nitrous oxide is considered mild compared to other options, but for many people, it's quite powerful enough to do the job. If you choose this option, the dental assistant will put a nosepiece on your face to deliver the gas. All you need to do is lay back and breathe through your nose. The initial effect can seem strange, but your body will get used to it within a couple of minutes. After that, all your worries will float away. This doesn't just pertain to your dental worries. Imagine an instant vacation from all of your troubles, and you know what the right dose of nitrous will do for you! Best of all, it's not hard to find a family dentist in St. Paul who offers relaxing gas. If nitrous oxide isn't strong enough for you, a variety of pill-based sedatives can be used to provide a higher level of relaxation. Some of these medicines provide a general, all-over calmness. Others can even allow you to forget the entire procedure so that it seems as though nothing happened. One thing in common with all of these substances is that they allow you to respond to the dentist's commands during the procedure. These commands will be simple ones like "open your mouth," "bite," and "spit." It's much easier for a family dentist in St. Paul to do his job if you aren't so out of it that you're like a complete sack of potatoes. IV sedation is another option that is sometimes advertised. This can provide a serious level of relaxation, but in most cases, pills are enough to do the job. Like pills, IV sedatives make it so that you are very relaxed and may even forget the details of the procedure once you come out from under sedation. With any sedative other than nitrous oxide, you will need to have someone drive you to and from the office. Even if the office is within walking distance, it's better to get a ride home. This is because your coordination will be impaired for several hours. With nitrous, you will be able to drive, but it's best if you stay at the office for a few more minutes after the procedure is completed to allow the gas to fully leave your system. Patience and Good Chairside Manner You may be amazed to find that your dental anxiety is greatly alleviated by going to a family dentist in St. Paul who has an extremely calm and patient demeanor. If he explains everything that will happen, that will help greatly as well. While a good, calm dentist may not alleviate all of your fears at first, you may find that you need less medication that you otherwise would have. Over time, after you have had several good experiences at the dentist, you may even decide to forgo the higher-powered sedatives altogether.
Related Articles -
family, dentist, st., paul,
|