Do not let Fear and Anxiety Keep You from Getting Needed Dental Treatment!

For many of us, fear is the number one offender. It fills us with dread, affects us negatively both emotionally and physically, and we sometimes make decisions that are fear-based which we regret later. Fear can arise out of our perceptions, and let’s face it: a lot of us fear going to the dentist because we feel the experience is going to be a painful and stressful one.This is especially true with children. For them and their parents, the ordeal of a visit to the dentist can keep them from getting the treatment they need. Even oral sedation, or “numbing,” a method proven effective for preventing pain, can work better on some than others, and in some cases, it may not work at all.At 7 Day Dental, we are committed to painless dentistry and we do not want your children or you to avoid needed dental treatment because you fear pain. This is why we offer general anesthesia. Our board-certified anesthesiologists use an IV, or intravenous drip, which provides a safe, deep sedation, or sleep, to children and adults alike. Employing the same level of professional experience and type of equipment found in hospitals and surgery centers, our anesthesiologists carefully administer and regulate IV sedation for each patient, individually based on each one’s medical condition and the length of the procedure. There are few side effects, and patients can go home soon after. By literally sleeping through the entire dental procedure, patients not only avoid pain and discomfort, but also the stress and anxiety of hearing drills, feeling pressures, and simply being aware of the experience is eliminated. This is especially beneficial to children, who usually will not remember their dental treatment, and consequentially will have less dread seeing the dentist as they grow up.To illustrate this point, consider Johnny, a cute and energetic four-year old patient of ours. Like most children his age, Johnny enjoys candy and sodas. In Johnny’s case, it resulted in some pretty severe cavities in three of his front teeth. He came to 7 Day Dental several times to have his teeth treated, but regardless of how hard his dentist and his parents tried to calm and reassure Johnny, he would not allow the dentist to treat his teeth. He would squirm, kick, yell, and cry. We tried oral sedation, but this did not work for Johnny. When the decision was made to use IV sedation, however, the ordeal was over. While Johnny slept comfortably, his dentist repaired all three of his teeth in under an hour. Today, Johnny has a beautiful smile, and he doesn’t remember the experience at all. His parents are grateful for that smile, and we at 7 Day Dental are too, and a little proud that we could help.As this true story demonstrates, it is possible to have a stress-free, even comfortable visit to the dentist if you decide that you or your child would rather sleep during the entire affair. Children often do not recall the experience, and are less inclined to be fearful of the dentist. Because you or your child is relaxed and asleep, the dentist can also often complete all of the planned treatment at one time, allowing you to awaken with a beautiful smile!