So many people avoid going to the family dentist in Wilmington, Delaware because the thought of walking into the office causes such anxiety and fear that they just can’t do it. You’re not alone if you have avoided the dentist for years or even decades due to dental anxiety or phobia. The great thing about sedation dentistry is that it benefits both the patient and the dentist because when a patient is more relaxed and comfortable, the dentist can perform the necessary procedures more quickly and effortlessly.
When patients have to take breaks constantly or are so nervous the dentist has to stop his work several times, the process becomes much more uncomfortable and lengthier than need be. Sedation dentistry benefits patients and dentists, and most patients have no memory of the dental work done. If you are a good candidate for sedation dentistry in Wilmington, Delaware, your dentist will discuss your options.
Sedation Dentistry Signs and Symptoms
The best sedation dentist in Wilmington will explain which sedation method will work best for you. Some people have dental anxiety, and some people have dental phobia. While the two are very much alike, dental phobia is more serious. The signs and symptoms of dental phobia and anxiety include:
- Racing heartbeat
- Sweating
- Shaking
- Gagging
- Vomiting
- Crying
- Panic
- Fainting
Causes of Dental Anxiety and Dental Phobia
Most people who have an extreme fear of the dentist have had a bad experience, but others have anxiety that has no known cause. Your Wilmington, Delaware, family dentist will do whatever he can to ease your fears and make your dental visits as pleasant as possible.
The most common causes of dental anxiety and dental phobia are:
- A traumatic dental experience or traumatic medical experience
- Previous trauma to the head and neck
- Abuse—fear of coming into contact with unknown persons
- Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD)
- Discomfort with contact with the mouth; invasion of personal space
- Fear of loss of control
- Trust issues (what will happen if I’m sedated?)
Sedation dentistry lets the patient be alert enough to respond to directives and answer questions.
Types of Sedation Dentistry
Nitrous Oxide, known as “laughing gas,” helps patients relax while getting dental work. For some procedures, laughing gas is mainly for your comfort, but it’s also offered to patients who need to relax. When laughing gas is administered, you will feel dreamlike, remaining relaxed until your dental work is finished. Nitrous oxide sedation dentistry requires someone to drive you home from your appointment as you cannot do so yourself.
Anti-anxiety medications also help patients relax during their dental procedures. Some of our patients have severe anxiety and need anti-anxiety medication before their appointment. If you’re a good candidate for anti-anxiety medication, you will be prescribed medication with instructions on when to take it for your appointment. Due to the side effects of the medication, you will need someone to drive you to and from your dental appointment.
Learn More About Sedation Dentistry
If you’re afraid of going to the dentist, you’re not alone. There’s nothing to be embarrassed about, as millions of Americans yearly avoid the dentist due to dental phobia and dental anxiety. With so many advances in dental technology and innovative ways to perform dental procedures while patients are sedated, you need not put off much-needed dental work any longer.
Dr. Garrett Goodling and his dental team understand what it’s like to fear dental work. With an amazing staff, comfortable amenities, advanced dental technology, and the best sedation dentist in Wilmington, you can do dental work while feeling safe, comfortable, and secure.
Please don’t put off a dental exam another day; sedation dentistry can literally save lives because it allows your dentist to look for oral cancer, periodontal disease, and tooth decay while you sit comfortably in the chair. Call Dr. Goodling at (302) 994-0979 or complete our online contact form.
You owe it to yourself to give Dr. Goodling a chance to show you that going to the dentist does not have to be the terrifying experience of yesteryear. You’ll be amazed at how quickly you’ll be in and out and how much better you’ll feel knowing your dental health is in the kind, compassionate hands of a family dentist who really cares about your health.
