A fear of the dentist, also known as dental anxiety or dental phobia, is a common issue that affects a significant number of people. There are several reasons why many individuals experience fear or anxiety when visiting the dentist, including negative past experiences, anticipated pain, a loss of control, and sensory triggers, among others.
Sedation dentistry, sometimes referred to as relaxation dentistry, plays an important role in helping patients with dental anxiety receive the compassionate, quality dental care they deserve. Here’s what you can expect from the professionals at Alexandria Dental Health & Smile Studio.
Caring Attention Though Sedation Dentistry in Northern Virginia
Sometimes the fear of the unknown is the worst aspect of a dental visit. So plan to schedule a meeting before any procedure to learn more about the process, different techniques and tools used, and how you’ll feel afterward. Whether you need a biannual checkup and cleaning or something more complex, you have the right to ask as many questions as necessary.
Your dentist can also help you establish relaxation techniques to feel calm, relaxed, and confident while receiving dental care. Options range from the use of music or video for distraction to visualizing scenes that reduce feelings of anxiety.
Finally, our office has various options for sedation dentistry, and each one has pros and cons based on your medical history and personal concerns.
Our dental sedation treatment options:
- Oral sedation. Administered in pill form, this type of conscious sedation may require an at-home dose to ensure you’re completely relaxed for your procedure. Because oral sedation also takes some time to wear off, plan to have someone escort you to and from your appointment.
- IV sedation. If deemed necessary, Dr. Mazhari will coordinate IV sedation services in our office with a local anesthesiologist. This ensures your safety during sedation and enables us to perform the necessary dental procedures to meet your oral health needs.