Being scared of the dentist is a common issue, and it is nothing to be ashamed of. You’ll find that your dentist has a friendly team that specialises in dealing with nervous patients, and will have measures in place to help you feel more comfortable at your appointments.
There are numerous reasons why people are scared of the dentist – perhaps you don’t like invasive treatments, or you had a bad experience with your dentist as a child. Others worry about what treatments they may need, or are afraid of judgement of their smile. Being nervous at the dentist is common, and more often than not you have absolutely nothing to worry about. Many dentists work to help you overcome your fears, by providing measures such as sedation.
Should you require any further treatment, your dentist will explain in detail why it is needed and what exactly is involved, so that there are no nasty surprises. Most dentists nowadays use the latest modern dentistry techniques, meaning that your treatment will be pain-free.
One popular option is the use of conscious sedation. This doesn’t mean you’ll be asleep under general anaesthetic, so you’ll be able to see and cooperate with your dentist as needed. This does mean that you’ll be in a relaxed, pain-free state, and will probably remember little of the procedure after it is completed.
You can also try intravenous sedation. This kind of sedation makes you feel extremely relaxed almost instantly, as the sedative drugs are delivered directly into your bloodstream.
If you are booked into an appointment that will use conscious sedation, a friend or family member will escort you to your practice and take you home afterwards to ensure your safety. They will also need to take care of you until the sedatives wear off. Don’t worry – by the time this happens, the pain will have diminished to almost nothing!
