Dental anxiety

There are several reasons why people may be nervous about visiting the dentist. It may be something as simple as the clinical smell of a dental practice that puts people off, or a previous bad experience that could have stayed with them for life.

nervous-dental-patientsThere are many millions of people that suffer from dental phobia. With 29% of us suffering from regular dental pain, it is important to face your anxieties, so these pains can be remedied before they become more serious.

Nervous patients at Crofts Dental Practice

Many patients feel nervous when they visit the dentist. All our dentists are qualified to treat patients who do not feel totally comfortable about the experience of a dental appointment.

All of the staff at Crofts Dental Practice are sensitive to the concerns of nervous patients and those with dental phobias. However, we understand that in certain circumstances, sedation may be a helpful option for those who are worried about their treatments.

Sedation can be used to assist in the process of several treatments and there are a number of different sedation options.

RA and IV sedation

For RA sedation, a mix of nitrous oxide and oxygen is adjusted to suit each patient. Different people need a different mix of these gases to achieve a feeling of being warm, cosy and far away. We use a small soft sterile nosepiece for you to breathe through.

IV sedation will require an injection in the back of the hand. If you dislike needles, we can use the happy air first to relax you and reduce sensations and then the injection is quickly over without you noticing too much. Many people find this a great way to do it.

How does it feel?

You will certainly feel very calm. Most people also feel some other sensations, which can include warm and heavy feeling arms and legs, mild tingling in fingers and toes and a sense of feeling far away.

A lot of patients also recall voices and music appearing to become distant, combined with a sense of not minding being at the dentist anymore.

The sedation is just for relaxation. If you are having a treatment such as a filling, you will also require local anesthetic to numb the area being worked on.