I'm 42 and haven't been to a dentist since I left for college. For some reason, the longer I don't go to the dentist, the more afraid I am to actually go. I don't want to lose my teeth. I don't suspect any serious problems right now, but sometimes my gums are tender. Is there anyway to make this first appointment a little less scary? Are their chicken appointments?
Brent W.- Little Rock
Brent,
It is good you are wanting to be proactive and take care of your fear issue in order to care for your teeth. There are many dentists who have compassion for patient's who are anywhere from uncomfortable to downright terrified. As a result they study what is known as sedation dentistry. There is a large variety of options available depending on the dentist. You can get anything from an oral sedative, to nitrous oxide, to IV sedation.
You could let your dentist know your comfort level and decide on the level of sedation you need ahead of time. Some people, who have avoided the dentist for years, find sedation dentistry a great way to get years of dental work done without any stress.
This blog is brought to you by Orange County Emergency dentist, Dr. Tran.
