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Are you or someone you know fear of going to the dentist? Or does the thought of sitting still for long dental procedures make you anxious? You are not alone! More than 100 million people in U.S. experience some form of dental fear, anxiety or even dental phobia.Sedation Dentistry has already helped millions of anxious patient get the dental care they need and desire . Sedation dentistry can help! But first an explanation about dental fear. A distinction has been made between dental anxiety, dental fear, and dental phobia. DENTAL ANXIETY is a reaction to a danger which is unknown, and the individual anticipates the worst even from relatively straightforward procedures. Anxiety is very usual, and most people experience some degree of dental anxiety especially if they're about to have something done which they've never experienced before. Basically, it's a fear of the unknown. DENTAL FEAR is a reaction to a known danger, which involves a fight-or-flight response when confronted with the threatening stimulus: I know what the dentist is going to do, been there, done that - I'm scared! DENTAL PHOBIA is basically the much stronger fear. Also, the fight-or-flight response occurs when just thinking about or being reminded of the threatening situation. Someone with a dental phobia will avoid dental care at all costs until either a physical problem or the psychological burden of the phobia becomes overwhelming. It is difficult to define "dental anxiety". From what little research there is available, this may be more common in people who are generally anxious. Also, even people, who've never had a bad experience with a dentist or a dental procedure, can develop dental fear or phobia - this is usually the result of vicarious learning (that is, scare-stories or media portrayal). A person's life can be affected widely by dental fear and anxiety. Not only does their dental health suffer, but dental phobia may lead to anxiety and depression. Depending on how obvious the damage is, the individual may not be able to take on jobs which involve extensive contact with the public. Loss of self-esteem over not being able to do something as "simple" as going to a dentist and intense feelings of guilt over not having looked after one's teeth properly are also very common. Dental phobia sufferers may also avoid doctors for fear that they might want to have a look at their tongue or throat and suggest that a visit to a dentist might be in order. Sedation Dentistry or Oral Conscious Sedation is a safe and easy way to significantly decrease dental fear and anxiety. It is as simple as taking a pill! Sedation Dentistry refers to the way a dentist can deal with pain and anxiety during dental appointments. Sedation Dentistry helps eliminate the anxieties that people feel at the dental office and nearly eliminates the pain associated with dental procedures. Conscious Sedation in dentistry is defined as a minimally reduced level of consciousness that retains the patient's ability to independently and continuously keep an airway as well as awareness.Patient are completely unconscious, asleep, and unable to respond when they are under General Anesthesia. However, they are able to respond to conversations and breathe on their own when they are under Conscious Sedation. Also unlike General Anesthesia or I.V. sedation, Oral Conscious sedation does not need needles to administer and does not cost more associated with I.V. Sedation. Oral Conscious Sedation protocols have been used safely on adults for over 30 years but were recently enhanced to significantly improve the dental experience. There are no needles required to administer Oral Conscious Sedation and you will feel little or no discomfort once you are sedated. Your doctor will check your medical history before starting any treatments and tell you how Oral Conscious Sedation can work for you. On the day of your Oral Conscious Sedation Dentist appointment, you will take the medication - a pill - and have a companion take you to your dentist's office. Experienced clinical team members are with you during your entire visit to make certain that you are completely relaxed and comfortable and continue to monitor your comfort carefully during your treatment. Many patients feel no discomfort whatsoever during and after treatment. Dentists must be certified and trained in Sedation Dentistry. Not every dentist can perform Oral Conscious Sedation. Each Dentist should have completed advanced training in Oral Conscious Sedation and be licensed by the State to perform Sedation Dentistry. Sedation Dentistry has already helped millions of fearful patient get the dental care.Isnt time for you to smile more?
Article Source: http://www.thehealthmanual.com
Dental Relaxation is a FREE referral service dedicated to patients experiencing some form of fear or anxiety about going to the dentist. Visit us at www.dentalrelaxation.com for more information about Sedation Dentistry.
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