Anxiety and fear are feelings that overtake many of us, at just the thought of going to the dentist. We’ve all experienced a tooth ache, and hoped it would just go away on its own, but it never does. In fact it just gets worse, until you can’t take it anymore and you are forced to go to the dentist. 

I have even had my dentist ask, why I waited so long to come in to his office.  I responded with, my anxiety is what keeps me away. Walking into the dentist office is like hitting the panic button.  He asked why I didn’t say anything before, but I wasn’t really sure.

He told me, I wasn’t. alone. Then he explained to me modern dentistry has ways to cope with these negative feelings and feel comfortable at the dentist. 

The first step is to talk to your dentist, describe exactly how you feel. Don’t worry, it isn’t something they haven’t heard before. They can help you get the oral health care you need without the pain or anxiety. Dear Doctor Dentistry and Oral Health describes how to begin. 

  • Open discussion of your fears and experiences in a calm environment 
  • The listening relationship that you need to feel safe and in which you have the time you need to go at your own pace.
  • Ultimately allowing you to develop the sense of control you need to reduce automatic anxiety response

Anxiety Just Melts Away

When you are afraid, your threshold for pain is much lower, you become hypersensitive to every sensation, prick, and noise. Fear and anxiety trigger the release of certain chemicals like adrenalin which put your “fight or flight” instincts on high alert. You anticipate that something is going to hurt and so you tense your muscles, even if it is subconsciously. In this heightened state of anxiety you experience more pain during and even after treatment. However this response can virtually be eliminated with oral sedation dentistry!

If you feel you or a loved one skips dental appointment because of anxiety, sedation dentistry can help, talk to your dentist. Then contact Blue Sky Solutions, we bring hospital level sedation to your dentist office. Never compromise on safety.