What is Dental Phobia?

Dental Phobia or anxiety is an excessive fear that some Canadians have of visiting their dentist. It’s predicted that between 10-15% of Canadians experience this fear, and up to 50% of Canadians may have some reservation towards visiting the dentist. Many sufferers don’t seek necessary dental care due to their anxiety.

While dentistry sometimes gets a bad rep for being painful, it has changed drastically over the last hundred years. Most procedures are comfortable and quick, and preventative care is rarely painful in our modern world. Unfortunately, like most phobias, a dental phobia isn’t rational. The people who experience it are struggling against a visceral emotional reaction, and it’s difficult to confront that sort of fear. Fortunately, there are tools available to help patients to overcome their phobia.

Sedation Dentistry is a service that the Calgary dentists at Metro Dental care have been proudly offering patients for years. Oral sedatives have been used by dentists and doctors for many years to aid patients who feel anxiety towards treatment. The sedative makes patients sleepy which helps them to relax, remain calm, and be comfortable within our office.

Asleep or Awake.

Oral sedation has come a long way with better and more precise medicines. It’s now possible to simply sleep through your entire dental treatment, or alternatively, you can use a sedative that will help you to relax while you remain conscious throughout the examination and treatment. Our staff strives to always provide a safe and comfortable atmosphere for all of our patients — including those who suffer from a dental phobia. Which is why we’re happy to discuss your needs ahead of time to ensure your treatment is as positive an experience as possible.

After Treatment Care.

After your treatment, you won’t want to go to work. You’ll likely still be drowsy, and it’s important that you go home to recover. Make sure you have a trusted friend or family member available to drive you to your appointment and to pick you up after your dental treatment is complete. Driving under the influence of a sedative is very dangerous, so you’ll need to plan ahead to have someone available to bring you home.

Dental phobias are challenging to treat, and they lead to thousands of Calgarians avoiding the dental clinic and the important oral care they need. When teeth aren’t cleaned and preventative care is neglected, cavities and other problems are more likely. These issues exponentially increase the likelihood that you’ll need a treatment that is less comfortable than a simple cleaning. But, sedation dentistry is a potential solution. With sedation dentistry, you can relax and come in for your semi-annual cleanings which will both keep your mouth in great shape and help prevent decay and the need for more invasive procedures. To learn more about how sedation dentistry can help you, contact the Calgary dentists at Metro Dental today.

Those in Calgary who require dental treatment may need to get in touch with their local General Dentists, like Metro Dental Care.