Dental anxiety is something that many people in the country suffer to some degree. Some people only struggle with certain procedures or sounds. Others may have dental anxiety so bad that they’re unable to visit the office for regular dental checkups.
At our Northeast Philadelphia dental office, Dr. Drew Shulman has experience in helping patients that suffer from dental fears. Our dental care team strives to ensure patients feel comfortable at our dental office. We will help you relax while getting the dental care you need.
What Causes Dental Anxiety in Northeast Philadelphia?
Many people have dental anxiety because they’ve had a bad experience involving the dentist in the past. Maybe a dental procedure went south or you had a dentist that didn’t have a good attitude while dealing with you. Maybe the sounds of a dental drill or the office setting trigger your fears and anxiety.
No matter what causes your dental fear, it can make it hard to get the dental care you need. If you’re avoiding the dentist altogether, you’re more likely to have bigger dental problems. These require more intensive procedures, which means you’re spending more time in the dental chair in the long run.
At our office, we do everything we can to make sure our patients feel safe and comfortable. From our friendly office environment to education and sedation dentistry, we employ techniques to help even our most anxious patients.
Utilizing Sedation Dentistry
One of the best ways to take care of dental phobia is with dental sedation. Dr. Shulman is especially adept with sedation dentistry. He’s a member of the Dental Organization of Conscious Sedation (DOCS), and has taken hours of courses specifically on this medium. He has sedation certifications with the state of Pennsylvania to provide conscious sedation to his dental patients.
Types of dental sedation include:
- Nitrous Oxide: Nitrous oxide is widely known as laughing gas. The patient inhales this gas through a nasal mask during their procedure. Nitrous oxide takes effect and dissipates very quickly. It’s the only form of sedation where you can drive yourself to and from your appointment. You’ll feel relaxed and euphoric throughout your procedure but shouldn’t fall asleep.
- Oral Conscious Sedation: Oral conscious sedation involves taking a prescribed pill before you visit the office for your procedure. You will need a ride both to and from the office. The pill will offer more relaxation than laughing gas. You’ll feel sleepy and relaxed, and may fall asleep. You normally forget some or all of your procedure.
- IV Sedation: IV sedation uses the same kind of drugs as oral conscious sedation. However, the dentist administers them directly into the bloodstream. The dentist carefully controls and monitors the IV drip throughout your appointment to ensure you’re comfortable and safe.
If you suffer from a fear of the dentist, it’s important that you tell our dental staff. We want to make sure you have a good experience at our office and are able to get the dental treatments you need. Dr. Shulman will talk with you and make sure to provide the best sedation option for your particular case.
Tackle Dental Anxiety At Our Office!
We can offer you the solution you need so that you can get dental care in a relaxed, comfortable environment. Call us or schedule an appointment online!