How can I ease my fears about dental care without medication?
When you visit our dental office, we can discuss ways that you can prevent experiencing anxiety while receiving dental care. Give us a call to go over any and all methods for dealing with dental anxiety that we can offer. In some cases, all a patient needs to do is play music on headphones during the appointment. In other cases, we may need medication or another method to deal with dental anxiety.
How can I prepare for my dentist appointment?
Another easy way to calm your fears is to visit our Las Vegas dental office and meet with Lubna Anwar prior to the actual appointment. Taking the time to tour our office, where you can sit in the dentist chair and have a conversation, will allow you to become familiar with our staff and office environment. After this meeting, when you do have your teeth cleaned, you are doing so in an atmosphere that you feel comfortable in with friendly and familiar faces. During your consultation, we can also discuss what you can expect from a teeth cleaning or a specific procedure. This will help you to mentally prepare for how long it will take, what dental tools we will use, what you may feel during the process and what the recovery period will be, if any. At Care For You Dental, we find that the more informed our patients are the more comfortable and relaxed they feel. This one appointment can help to alleviate the fear of dentists that you are experiencing.
Las Vegas Dental Anxiety
Sedation Dentistry Can Reduce Your Dental Anxiety
In our Las Vegas dental office, we practice sedation dentistry that can be used to reduce and prevent dental anxiety. Here are some of the questions we are regularly answer about sedation dentistry.
Will I be asleep when sedated?
Typically not. Sleep dentistry is usually reserved for oral surgery and lengthy procedures. Sedation dentistry will help you relax and can make you drowsy, so some patients do nod off. However, with our sedation methods, you are still in control of your body and are technically not put to sleep
Can everyone use sedation dentistry?
To determine if you are healthy enough for sedation (most people are), we recommend that you schedule an appointment with our Nevada dental office. We will meet with you to discuss the type of sedation that will be best for your procedure and the level of dental anxiety that you are experiencing.
How is sedation dentistry administered?
The most common form of sedation is taking a pill an hour before the procedure begins. One pill can help you to feel entirely relaxed and eliminate your fear of dentists. Most procedures, like teeth cleaning or fixing a simple cavity, do not necessarily hurt. With sedation, many people do not require additional medication. However, if you would like pain medication as well, we can give it to you after the sedation has taken effect.
Will I be able to move around like normal?
Yes, with sedation dentistry you can continue to engage in conversation and respond to commands; but your response times may be slightly delayed and your mind not as clear as normal. This is why we recommend that you either have someone drive you home or wait until it has worn off completely before driving home after the appointment.
Definition of Dental Terminology
Cosmetic Dentistry
Cosmetic dentistry is generally used to refer to any dental work that improves the appearance (though not necessarily the function) of a person’s teeth, gums, and/or bite.
Tooth Decay
Tooth decay occurs when the enamel begins to break down, causing erosion due to plaque and tartar buildup on the teeth.
Dental Caries
Dental caries, also known as cavities, result from poor oral hygiene that allows plaque to build up and form tiny holes in the teeth.
Dental Checkup
A dental checkup is an appointment that includes cleaning the teeth, checking for any signs of infection, and treating any issues found. It is typically recommended at least once every six months.
Dental Filling
A dental filling restores the structure of a tooth by using metal, alloy, porcelain, or plastic to fill the damaged area.
Dental Sealants
Dental sealants are made of a resin material that we apply to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth to help prevent dental caries.
Dentist
A dentist, also known as a dental surgeon, is a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases and conditions of the oral cavity.
Gingivitis
Gingivitis is inflammation of the gum tissue that results from plaque buildup, infections in the mouth, and poor oral hygiene.
Preventive Dentistry
Preventive dentistry focuses on maintaining oral health to help prevent plaque buildup, tartar formation, and infections in the mouth.
Tartar
Tartar forms when plaque builds up on the surface of the teeth and hardens (calcifies) into a deposit that is much more difficult to remove and typically requires professional treatment.
Tooth Enamel
Tooth enamel is the protective, visible outer layer of a tooth that covers and protects the dentin and dental pulp.
