Dental appointments are often dreaded but sedation dentistry can make them enjoyable. Here are some things to think about.
Patients who dread their dental appointments may not mind them so much with sedation dentistry. Not many people like to have their teeth and gums poked and prodded but without this healthcare practitioner's treatment,
well being can be adversely affected. Not only is oral health linked with dental work, a patient's entire physical and emotional well being is taken care of too. Without regular visits to the dentist, individuals are more likely to lose their teeth, suffer low self esteem and malnutrition. Infections and untreated decay also lead to clogged arteries, heart disease, gingivitis, diabetes complications, premature births and much more. Here are some ways that modern dentists have made office visits more appealing:
Sedation: There are multiple ways to have a more comfortable experience including:
Prescription medications: A sedation dentistry professional can give a patient a prescription for one or two sedatives such as Valium or Xanax. Taking one the night before will ensure a good night of sleep. Swallowing another one the day of the appointment will allow relaxation in the dental chair.
Laughing gas: While laughing gas, or nitrous oxide, won't actually make a patient giggle, it will make them feel peaceful and smile a bit. This option involves breathing into a mask with the gas piped through. It is a safe choice with no aftereffects as soon as the mask is removed. Even kids can opt for nitrous oxide.
Twilight sleep: For some individuals and procedures, a twilight sleep, which will require some help from an anesthetist, will do the trick. This is especially helpful for wisdom teeth removal or other nerve wracking appointments.
Music: Another way that dentists are making their patients more comfortable is with music. There may be tunes coming through an overall sound system or from a set of headphones that allow individuals to choose their own musical selections. Some people relax with classical Mozart; others prefer to rock out to Led Zeppelin.
Artwork: Gazing at an artfully hand painted mural of a meadow full of flowers and wildlife is another way to relax in the chair. Some oral healthcare practitioners have these murals painted on the ceiling so individuals can gaze upward during a procedure while others choose the wall in front of the chair.
Flat screen televisions: Some offices have flat screens positioned in exam rooms as well as the waiting room. If soothing or funny shows are on, it can be a good way to get one's mind off the dental drill.
Games and magazines: Books, magazines, video or board games are showing up in many of today's DDS offices. This is true of pediatric practices, orthodontists and general dentists. It's hard to be anxious about your impending cavity filling when you're playing a rousing game of Wii bowling with another patient or family member.
There's not nearly as much reason to dread a dental appointment with today's relaxation tactics. Sedation dentistry, music, artwork, flat screen televisions, games and magazines can all make the visit fly by enjoyably.
