Relax at the Dentist with Sedation Dentistry 

Effective sedation dentistry techniques can eliminate the fear and stress you may feel before and during dental treatment. If you are afraid of the dentist’s chair, you are not alone, as millions of people feel nervous, scared, or anxious about visiting a dentist. At Stonebrook Family Dental, we want to help you feel at ease during your appointment with us. If you have a dental fear, you could benefit from sedation dentistry. 

What is Dental Fear? 

Dental fear is a common phobia that affects people of all ages. The fear itself can be mild-to-severe, however, patients can suffer from serious health conditions eventually because of it. VeryWell Mind explains that fear of the dentist can be divided into a few different categories. While most people only have fear of one of these elements, severe dental fear could mean a person may fear all of the elements together: 

• The dentist: seeing the dentist is often one of the most common fears. For many people with this fear, it stems from having a negative personal experience with one dentist in the past. 
• Pain: before modern dentistry took over, it was common to feel pain at the dentist. However, today, most procedures can have little to no pain during the procedure. 
• Numbness or gagging: some people, especially those who have experienced breathing difficulties before, tend to be afraid of having their mouth become numb at the dentist. People with this fear are often worried they won’t be able to swallow or breathe. 
• Sounds and smells: many people, especially those who have had previous bad dental experiences, are afraid of the sounds and smells that come along with a dentist’s office. The most common fear within this category is the sound of the drill. 
• Needles: people who are scared of needles tend to be more afraid of injections that dentists use to numb the mouth. 

Consequences of Dental Fear 

You might think that being afraid of going to the dentist doesn’t come with consequences. However, that’s not true. For many people, the fear of going to the dentist prevents them from coming to their appointments altogether. With this, they are more likely to experience oral health problems. In a report done by CBS News, it was found that patients who were scared of visiting the dentist were more likely to have at least one missing or decaying tooth. Additionally, they say, dental fear can contribute to a power quality of life, even though oral health issues typically aren’t life-threatening. 

When you suffer oral health issues, you can lose your ability to eat, drink, and talk normally, thus affecting your overall quality of life. 

Relax at the Dentist with Sedation Dentistry 

At Stonebrook Family Dental, our team is committed to helping you receive the treatment you need. However, we want to make sure that you feel comfortable in our office. If you find that you get anxious before your dental appointment, please share your concerns with our team. We offer a wide array of gentle and relaxing sedation methods that can make your dental visit feel less intimidating. Our two most common options are:

• Nitrous oxide (laughing gas), which is one the safest anti-anxiety agents in the dental field. Due to it’s mild effects and easy, shot-free administration, laughing gas is an excellent way to help you feel more comfortable when you sit down in one of our dental chairs. 
• Oral conscious sedation, which involves taking a sedative shortly before your dental treatment begins. With just one pill, you will feel significantly calm and relaxed throughout your entire visit with Dr. Kevin Varley and our team at Stonebrook Family Dental. You’ll feel relaxed, however, you will still be awake and able to talk to our team. Even though you are conscious, the effects can linger for a few hours so you will need someone to drive you home when your treatment is complete. 

Who is a Candidate for Sedation Dentistry?

Typically, any healthy adult can qualify for sedation dentistry. If you’ve had traumatic experiences in the past, difficulty getting numb, have a sensitive gag reflex, or even if you’re just afraid of the dentist, sedation dentistry could be the best option for you. 

Make an Appointment with Stonebrook Family Dental

Don’t let the fear of going to the dentist put you at risk for oral health issues later on. Our office is conveniently located in Aurora, CO and we’re here for you and all of your dental needs. Call our office today to learn more at (303)-872-7907.