Do you experience sweaty palms and a racing heart when sitting in the dentist chair, or even thinking about having your teeth examined?
Fear of the dentist is nothing to be embarrassed about — and it’s actually more common than you might think. If your anxiety is keeping you from getting regular dental care and important treatments, it’s time to focus on working through the anxiety.
Anxiety before and during a dental visit can be medically controlled with sedation dentistry. Sedation dentistry may be used for most types of dental restoration and rehabilitation treatment, such as porcelain veneers and porcelain crowns, laser teeth cleanings, and even TMJ therapy.
At my Boulder, Colorado dental practice, we offer several forms of sedation dentistry to accommodate anxious patients and help you relax.
- Oral sedation is a safe way to induce relaxation using FDA approved oral medication taken about an hour before your appointment. You’ll need a friend or family member to drive you to and from the visit, and the effects wear off in a matter of hours. Oral sedation is our most popular option since it allows you to remain relaxed yet responsive, with little or no memory of the treatment afterwards.
- We also offer nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, which you inhale just before treatment to ease anxiety. Laughing gas is also a popular choice, and generally recommended for those who experience mild to medium anxiety levels.
- For our patients with severe anxiety, we bring in a specialist who can perform IV sedation, the deepest level of sedation possible. IV sedation is a deep, unconscious state where your vital signs are monitored.
- We have also had patients bring in therapy dogs to make the experience less stressful.
Whatever your level of anxiety, we can find the perfect way to make your dental visits easy and smooth. During your complimentary new patient consultation and interview, my team and I will listen to your concerns and design a program based on your individual needs.
If you would like to learn more about dental anxiety and discuss your concerns, I would be happy to sit down with you for a preliminary consultation. Please contact my Boulder dental practice to schedule a visit.
Dr. Ania
Comprehensive & Cosmetic Dentistry
