Would I Benefit from Sedation Dentistry?

Dental anxiety is a common condition that affects millions of adults in the United States. Despite advances in dental technology that enable sedation dentistry and render most procedures painless, people are still anxious about sitting in the dental chair. In fact, a study published in a 2017 edition of the Journal of Dental Hygiene states that 50-80% of American adults experience mild to severe dental anxiety. Over 20% of these are irregular with their dental visits, and up to 15% completely avoid dental care. If you are one of these individuals who experience dental anxiety, sedation dentistry may be a good option.

Dental anxiety

Dental anxiety includes any anxiety, fear, or stress that accompanies a dental visit or anything even related to the dentist. Drills, needles, or even the dental office itself can trigger anxiety levels. If the anxiety progresses to the level of avoiding dentist visits due to irrational fear, it is considered a dental phobia.

Causes of dental anxiety

Dental anxiety can be caused by a number of things:

• abuse or other traumatic experience
• depression, generalized anxiety, or PTSD
• fear of someone invading your personal space
• head and/or neck trauma
• fear of loss of control
• traumatic dental visit or healthcare experience
• trust issues
• additional anxiety-inducing conditions, such as agoraphobia, claustrophobia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder

Symptoms of dental anxiety

People with dental anxiety may find their ailment presenting in various ways. However, common experiences include fainting, low blood pressure, heart palpitations, racing heartbeat, uncontrollable crying, visible distress, and signs of panic.

Individuals with dental anxiety often use humor or aggression to deflect their anxiety or frequently withdraw from social company.

Impact on oral health

It may seem more comfortable at the moment to skip your dental appointment when you are highly anxious about it. But, in actuality, avoiding the dentist can cause worsening dental disease leading to a bigger need for more invasive treatment or emergency care. It also creates a vicious cycle where anxiety causes more problems that need more treatment which in turn causes more anxiety.

Sedation dentistry

Sedation dentistry is a popular option for people with dental anxiety. Sedation options range from minimal to deep and may be administered orally, inhaling gas, or IV. The dosage and level of sedation generally depend on the procedure you will be undergoing, your age and size, and your typical level of anxiety or discomfort. In addition to those with anxiety, sedation dentistry is a suitable option for people who cannot sit still for long periods of time, for those with a reactive gag reflex, and for situations requiring extensive or very invasive procedures.

Conclusion

Your dentist is your partner in your overall health quest and, especially, your oral health care. If you suffer from dental anxiety to the extent that you are skipping or canceling your dentist appointments for cleanings or other procedures, you need to explore some options to get your anxiety under control. Your dentist knows you and should have a good idea of whether a form of sedation dentistry would be beneficial to you. 

Request an appointment here: https://siegertdental.com or call Siegert Dental at (608) 394-3943 for an appointment in our Onalaska office.

Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Sedation Dentist in Onalaska, WI.