Dental phobia is a very real fear for many patients who visit us here at Cornerhouse. Some of the indicators that you may have dental phobia include:
- Feeling tense and unsettled the night before an appointment with your dentist.
- Nerves when sitting in the waiting room.
- Thought of visits to the dentist make you feel physically ill.
- Sight of dental instruments arrows anxiety and panic.
Dental phobia is not uncommon – a survey conducted by the British Dental Health Foundation found that 36% of people who didn’t see a dentist regularly did not do so down to anxiety. Fear of the dentist can become a big problem if it prevents you from getting the treatment and preventative attention you need. People with these nerves have a higher risk of gum disease and early tooth loss. The emotional consequences of failing to visit the dentist also come into play; if you have a discoloured or visibly damaged tooth this may affect your desire to smile and therefore your confidence. It is worth combatting dental anxieties to avoid further more serious damage later in life.
3 types of sedation:
- Inhalation sedation – this is also known as laughing gas.
- Oral sedation (in pill or liquid form).
- Intravenous (IV) sedation – administered into the blood stream through a vein (incidentally what ‘intravenous’ stands for).
Our team here at Cornerhouse are dedicated to helping anxious patients overcome their fear of the dentist and to find a suitable sedative method that will help see you through a procedure you may be undergoing. Sedation is a good idea if:
- Trust is a difficult issue for you.
- You feel sedation might make your dentist’s job easier/in case you’re worried about not being able to co-operate throughout the procedure.
- You do not wish to worry for days and days before your procedure.
If you would like more information about sedation at Cornerhouse, please do not hesitate to contact us and we can run through the options with you in more detail.
Book an appointment online or call us on 01603 621613