If you break a sweat at the thought of having your teeth cleaned, you certainly aren’t alone. Many people struggle with dental fears and phobias, and oftentimes, the anxiety people experience when they think about the dentist is enough to keep them from receiving the dental care they need. If this sounds like you, don’t worry — there are many options available to help ease your anxiety when you go to the dentist.
At Trillium Dental, we pride ourselves on maintaining eight comfortable dental clinics throughout Ottawa, including dental offices in Downtown Ottawa, Alta Vista, Kanata, Orleans, Stittsville, Stittsville West, and at the Bayshore and Westgate Malls. Our dentists and dental hygienists understand that having dental work done isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, and we are pleased to offer several sedation dentistry options to make your dental appointment more relaxing. Contact us today to learn about our sleep dentistry options, or continue reading to learn how dental sedation can ease your anxiety in the dentist’s chair.
TAKES THE EDGE OFF
Dental sedation is great for patients with anxiety and dental phobias because it takes the edge off, allowing patients to relax through their teeth cleaning, root canal, or other dental treatment. If you can barely get yourself in the door of your local dental clinic without having a panic attack, you’ll be happy to know that we can help ease your nerves via IV sedation, oral sedation, or nitrous oxide.
Both IV sedation and oral sedation allow patients to slip into a deeply sedated state so that they do not feel any pain or anxiety during their dental appointment. Commonly referred to as “sleep dentistry,” these forms of dental sedation are great for patients who have severe dental anxiety, a strong gag reflex, or a very low pain tolerance. Though patients are not unconscious, they will be unable to drive home from their appointment, so be sure to arrange for a ride to and from our family dental clinic if you opt for either of these dental sedation options.
On the other hand, nitrous oxide is a light sedative that helps patients relax without rendering them unable to drive. Also known as “laughing gas,” this type of dental sedation is inhaled through the nose, providing instant relief for nerves, fear, and anxiety. Many patients can benefit from nitrous oxide during their dental appointments, even if they have a mild fear of the dentist. Our goal is to provide you with an enjoyable dental checkup, and if nitrous oxide would make you feel more comfortable during your teeth cleaning, just let us know.
Read More: Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP)
MAKES THE APPOINTMENT EASIER
In addition to taking the edge off, dental sedation also makes teeth cleaning and other dental treatments easier. With less fear and resistance from patients, our dentists and dental hygienists are able to do their jobs more efficiently, so you can get in and out of our dental office as quickly as possible. We’re here to provide the best dental care possible, and often, dental sedation allows us to get through teeth cleanings, dental x-rays, and oral cancer screenings with minimal hang-ups.
Given that people with dental fears and phobias tend to avoid visiting their local dental clinic for routine teeth cleanings, many of them require more thorough teeth cleanings when they do. Not only does this mean longer dental appointments, but it can also lead to patients being more stressed out during their visit. With the use of sedation, our dentists are able to relax these patients so they can get a thorough teeth cleaning and oral exam when they visit our family dental clinic. This way, we can get you in and out as quickly as possible while still providing a comprehensive dental exam, whether that consists of a basic teeth cleaning, cavity fillings, or a gingivitis treatment.
TRY SLEEP DENTISTRY AT ONE OF OUR DENTAL CLINICS IN OTTAWA
Now that you know how sleep dentistry can ease your anxiety and dental phobias, there is no reason to keep putting off your next dental appointment. Contact our team at Trillium Dental in Ottawa to learn more about our dental sedation options, or book an appointment at one of our Ottawa dental clinics today!