It is normal that when you are in the dentist’s office and you see your dentist with a needle in his hand, you feel some phobia or fear; but it is not normal to have an excessive and irrational fear of visiting your dentist, this fear is more common than it seems and is called odontophobia. There are even people who have been suffering from periodontal disease for years and prefer to suffer the consequences in silence for fear of going to the dentist.
The mouth is a very sensitive and intimate place in our body and it is normal to feel anxiety during a visit to the dentist, but when someone has a phobia they cannot even hear the dentist mentioned and it is a serious situation that affects their quality of life.
What are the symptoms?
It is considered a phobia after 6 months, how many months or years have you not visited your dentist? The symptoms of a person who has odontophobia can be:
- Fear of surgery
- To tooth extraction
- To the placement of anesthesia
- Expresses fear of pain
- Deeply avoids going to a dental appointment
What are the solutions?
There are treatments to overcome odontophobia, we recommend to do some of them relaxation exercises and breathing exercises to relieve tension, choosing a dentist who can provide confidence and security In our dental center, for example, we take care to explain each of the steps of your treatment, we clearly explain the procedures so that you feel safe and are aware of everything we are going to execute. It is important to clarify that in extreme cases it is necessary the attention of a psychologist or a psychiatrist who are in charge of treating this type of pathologies.
On the other hand, the best option for this type of highly anxious patient is Nitrous Oxide, an excellent conscious sedation technique.
What is nitrous oxide and what are its advantages?
It is a non-toxic, anesthetic gas that produces a pleasant and relaxing sensation; it is also known as laughing gas, because it provides a feeling of satisfaction. This gas combines with oxygen and is ideal for anxious people suffering from panic attacks, tremors or tachycardia.
It is not injected, it is inhaled through a small mask; it does not affect health and the patient is conscious all the time. It does not prevent you from being anesthetized but sedation will help lower anxiety levels and make your experience more pleasant.
The effects of nitrous oxide disappear some time after the end of the treatment and the patient is able to leave the appointment under his own power.
In Carlos Acevedo Odontology we have this equipment that will make your experience at the dentist, much more pleasant and enjoyable. Schedule your appointment, what treatment are you interested in? Smile design, Dental Implants or Orthodontics.
