If you have been dealing with dental anxiety, then you should know that there is help available for you. Millions of people each year suffer in silence from a condition that prevents them from seeking even the most minimal level of dental care. Often times, patients are too embarrassed to reveal their feelings, choosing instead to shy away from necessary dental healthcare.

By choosing sedation dentistry in Toronto, you can work together with a dental team that is committed to helping you find a way to relax in the dental office. Sedation dentistry offers a number of relaxation techniques designed to reduce your stress and anxiety levels. By enabling you to feel more comfortable in the dental office, your dentist can help you to focus on your dental needs.

Arming yourself with a few proven tips for relieving dental anxiety will help to pave the road towards good dental health.

Identify your fears. What aspect of dental treatment seems to provoke the most anxiety? Perhaps the sounds, smells, or tastes that are associated with the dental office are unnerving for you. For some patients, a bad previous dental experience can be hard to forget. If it has been a while since your last dental visit, it is common to feel nervous or embarrassed about what the dentist may find.

Communication is the key. Expressing your main concerns with your dentist will help to open the lines of communication. Once your dentist understands the cause of your anxiety, the dental team can work to make you as comfortable as possible.

Sedation dentistry. Depending on your level of anxiety, prescription medications may be recommended before or during your dental visit. Some of these medications are used for their calming effects. Others are used to achieve deeper levels of relaxation, and even a light sleep. After reviewing your medical history, your sedation dentist can recommend the appropriate medication for you.

If your dental treatment has been delayed or postponed as a result of dental anxiety, then sedation dentistry may be right for you. While it is important to seek regular dental care, it is not necessary to suffer undue stress. Call Nicholas Kemp Dentistry at 416-922-1012 and schedule your appointment today to learn more about your options.

There are many reasons why patients choose sedation dentistry in Toronto.  Patients that have a fear of dentists in general often will put off even the most minimal care required to maintain healthy teeth and gums.  And avoiding those trips to your dentist twice a year for cleaning and a thorough dental exam can lead to long, invasive and costly procedures that might have been averted with regular dental maintenance.

Sedation dentistry is a wonderful option for patients with:

• Fear of needles
• Inability to sit for an extended period due to pain or discomfort
• High anxiety level
• A lengthy or extensive procedure

There are several important factors that you should know if you are considering sedation dentistry.  First and foremost, dental providers must be trained and qualified to perform any type of sedation dentistry.  And having the essential equipment in their offices based on the type of sedation dentistry offered is imperative.

How does sedation dentistry work?  For example, if you are undergoing oral surgery, you might be sedated with an IV delivery – this type of sedation will put you to sleep.  However, if you are undergoing less invasive procedures, sedation dentistry can be administered using sedatives.  And even though a patient might feel like they have slept during their dental procedure, patients are kept on a conscious level for their own safety, and so that they are able to cooperate with their dental provider during their procedure.

The patient will be in a state of total relaxation during sedation, and even though awake during their visit, some patients feel as if they did sleep during their procedure and might not even remember it at all.  The sedatives require a patient to have reliable transportation to and from their dental appointment, and should have someone able to stay with them for two to four hours upon completion of the dental appointment.

And even though the dentist and staff are trained in sedation dentistry, it is important for the patient to make sure the dentist is aware of all medications and supplements being taken; and that as an informed consumer, you educate yourself and understand the facts about sedation dentistry so the best decision may be made for your particular needs.

To learn more about sedation dentistry, please contact the office of Dr. Nicholas Kemp at 416.922.1012.