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Posts for tag: Dental Anxiety

By Beasley Cosmetic & General Dentistry
April 24, 2018
Category: Oral Health

How sedation dentistry from your dentist serving Athens and Huntsville can make life easierdental anxiety, sedation dentistry

If you are afraid of the dentist, you are not alone. Dental anxiety is a very common problem, and it can keep you from getting the dental care you need. You don’t have to let fear of dental treatment control your life. Dr. R. Brad Beasley at Beasley Family & Implant Dentistry wants to tell you more about sedation dentistry and how it can relieve your fears. He proudly serves the residents of Athens and Huntsville, AL and he can help you too.

Dental anxiety is the real deal. Don’t let anyone tell you it is “all in your head” because real physical issues can happen including an increased heart rate, sweating, trembling, hyperventilation, and other problems. People often become fearful of dental visits because they have:

  • A fear of needles
  • A history of bad dental experiences
  • Feelings of being vulnerable when leaned back in the dental chair
  • A dislike of smells, sounds, and sights within a dental office

At Beasley Family & Implant Dentistry, the office staff will make you comfortable with warm blankets and pleasant surroundings while you wait for the sedation to take effect. You will be carefully monitored the entire time to ensure a safe, relaxing visit. You can choose from several sedation methods, each offering its own benefits. For example:

  • Oral sedation, which is easy to administer and produces relaxation and a feeling of comfort; you may even sleep through your appointment.
  • Inhaled conscious sedation, which is inhaled through a nosepiece; containing a combination of nitrous oxide and oxygen, the effects of inhaled sedation leave your body quickly.

Dr. Beasley may also suggest a combination of oral and inhaled sedation, depending on the level of sedation you wish.

For more detailed information about sedation dentistry please visit the Sedation page on Dr. Beasley’s website at http://www.beasleydentistry.com/sedation-dentistry.html

Thanks to sedation dentistry, you don’t have to fear the dentist. You can get necessary dental work completed in a calm and relaxing atmosphere. Sedation dentistry from Dr. Beasley can make it happen. For more information about sedation dentistry and other dental services call Beasley Family & Implant Dentistry, serving the residents of Athens and Huntsville, AL. Call today!

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By Beasley Cosmetic & General Dentistry
July 31, 2015
Category: Oral Health
LamarOdomReboundsFromDentalAnxiety

Professional basketball player Lamar Odom is sometimes known as “the candyman” because of his notorious fondness for sweets. But when his sweet tooth finally caught up with him — in the form of a mouthful of decayed teeth — the six-foot-ten-inch, 230-pound hoops star admitted that he had been avoiding treatment… because he was afraid of going to the dentist!

It took two Kardashians (Khloe and Kim) and a painful toothache to finally persuade Odom to sit in the chair. Once he did, it was found that he needed a root canal, a wisdom tooth extraction, and several fillings. Yet the fretful forward sailed through the whole set of procedures in a single visit, and walked out with a big smile afterward. How did his dentists make that happen?

Put it down to the “magic” of sedation dentistry. With anxiety-relieving medications that can be delivered orally (in pill form or by gas) or intravenously (into the bloodstream), the techniques of sedation dentistry can help even the most fearful patients get the dental care they need. That’s good news for about 50 percent of the population, who admit they’re at least somewhat afraid of the dentist — and even better for the 15 percent who avoid dental care completely due to their fear.

Dentists have a number of ways to ease apprehensive patients through a dental visit. An oral anti-anxiety drug can be given in pill form about an hour beforehand. Nitrous oxide (sometimes called “laughing gas”), which is administered by a mask placed over the mouth or nose, may also be used to relieve anxiety. The calming effects of these medications help make any nervousness melt away — and in many circumstances, mild sedation is all that’s needed to ease the fear.

For lengthier or more complex procedures, intravenous (IV) sedation may be recommended. Unlike deeper (unconscious) sedation, IV sedation doesn’t cause “sleep.” Instead, it puts you in a comfortable semi-awake state, where you can still breathe on your own and respond to stimuli… but without feeling any anxiety. And when the procedure is over, you probably won’t have any memory of it at all.

IV sedation can be administered by dentists who are specially trained and equipped with the proper safety equipment. While sedation is being provided, you will be monitored at all times by a dedicated staff member; when it’s over, you will rest for a while as the medication quickly wears off. Then (as is the case with oral sedation), you’ll need another person to give you a ride home.

Does sedation dentistry really work? Lamar Odom thinks so. “I feel so much better,” he said when his 7-hour procedure was over. “I feel like I accomplished something.”

If you would like more information about sedation dentistry, please contact us or schedule an appointment. You can learn more by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Oral Sedation Dentistry.”

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By Dr. Beasley
August 26, 2014
Category: Dental Health
If you fear the dentist and you are skipping out on visits, it may be doing more harm to your mouth and body than you think. Millions of Americans avoid the dentist merely because of the dread of pain. An estimated 75 million people in the United States live with some type of dental fear, some children and some adults. Dental fears can stem from:Sedation Dentistry Patient
  • Prior painful or negative experiences
  • Feeling helpless or out of control in a dental situation
  • Feeling embarrassed about neglecting your teeth
  • Fear of being ridiculed about neglecting your teeth.
  • Parents or siblings have a fear which plays a role in your fear
Seeking dental care is imperative for your health, and Beasley Cosmetic & General Dentistry for Oral Health and Aesthetics in Huntsville has a solution to your dental doubts: Sedation dentistry.
 

Sedation Dentistry

Sedation dentistry has become a common trend for patients who are nervous about visiting the dentist. Sedation is used to keep the patient at contentment and ease during dental services. Our dentist has received sedation training and will safely monitor you during the procedure. There are different options a patient may choose for sedation. Types of sedation include:
  • Nitrous Oxide - This is commonly known as laughing gas. It is used to decrease pain and anxiety. It is very useful for children so they may relax and are more likely to cooperate.
  • Oral Sedation Dentistry – Our sedation dentist will administer anti-anxiety medicine about an hour before the procedure. This will allow the patient to relax but they are still fully alert.
  • Anti-Anxiety Pill – An anti-anxiety or sleeping pill may also be prescribed the night before the appointment. This can help the patient with falling asleep and getting well-needed rest.

Sedation can be useful if:

  • You do not want to be aware of what is happening
  • You want some help to relax
  • You want to get your teeth fixed as quickly as possible
Patients will find that using sedation dentistry will make going to the dentist a more pleasant experience. Some patients may not even recall the visit and feel that the treatment only lasted a few minutes, when it may have taken a few hours.
 

Other Calming Techniques

  • Yoga has been known to help patients obtain techniques for breathing and relaxation.
  • Listen to your iPod or MP3 player during the visit. This can keep your mind on something else.
  • If your dental office has a TV, use it to your advantage. Watch your favorite show and focus on that instead of what’s going on with your teeth.
  • Therapy or hypnotherapy sessions can also be an option for patients who find this has worked in other situations.
Our office wants to do anything we can to get you back to the dentist, which is why we offer sedation dentistry for Huntsville area patients. We hope you will find these techniques useful and will persuade you that seeing us is easy and important. Contact our dental office in Huntsville today by calling (888) 860-5114 for more information on sedation dentistry or to schedule an appointment.
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