Home & Lifestyle Spring 2017

Brush away dental anxiety with dentist’s top tips M ost dental phobia is caused by a traumatic past dental experience. Bad dental experience may not necessarily be a physical experience such as painful needle injections or a bad gag reflex. It can also be a psychological experience such as feeling a loss of control when lying in the dental chair, feeling worried of being humiliated or judged by the treating dentist or the feeling of disappointment with past dental work. Dental anxiety can be exacerbated by external factors such as noise from the dental equipment and the smell of the dental clinic. To help others overcome dental anxiety, Dr Reuben Sim, co-founder of Melbourne based dental practice, Dental Boutique shares his top tips. Allows patients to receive dental treatment while they are ‘asleep.’ It is ideal for people who have dental anxiety or phobia, fear of needles, have a low pain threshold, have a history of traumatic dental experiences, a strong gag reflex or those who have complex dental requirements. IV sedation, allows patients to remain conscious and still be able to follow dentists’ instructions, however the feeling of relaxation is so intense that they are unlikely to remember much about the procedure. 1. Sleep dentistry, IV sedation or General Anaesthesia (GA)

2. Using relaxation techniques The simplest breathing techniques involve inhaling and exhaling through your nose to a slow count of up to three – so three seconds of breathing in, followed by three seconds breathing out. Remember slow and deep breaths, not short and fast as this can cause you to hyperventilate. 3. Establish a fail-safe signal with your dentist This alerts the dentist if you’re feeling discomfort or pain or need to take a break during the appointment. The non-verbal signal can be as simple as raising your hand. 4. Gas inhalation Allows patients to experience a relaxed sensation as rapidly as after six to eight

breaths. During the procedure, they are still in control and able to respond to their dentist. As soon as the dental treatment is completed, the sedative effect dissipates quickly without drowsiness or any side effects. “Regardless of what techniques you use, it is important to find the real cause of your dental phobia or anxiety, and speak to your dentist about it. It is important to find a dentist that you are comfortable with. One of the best ways to do this is through research and ask your friends and family for recommendations. Dentists who are experienced in treating anxious and phobic patients generally are well equipped with more advanced technologies and techniques to provide virtually pain free dentistry to their patients.”

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