Tips to Overcome Your Embarrassment of Going to the Dentist
Communicate your concerns. Explain to your dentist why you're embarrassed before your visit. Sharing your concerns with the dentist and dental staff will help them adapt their treatment to your needs and put you at ease while you're in the chair.
It is recommended you do not have anything to eat or drink (except for water) at least 5 hours before your scheduled appointment. This will prevent food debris from lodging in your teeth, which can irritate you during a cleaning and give your dentist a little extra work to do.
Brush and Floss As Usual: It might go without saying that you should brush and floss your teeth before seeing your dentist. Although your dentist will also perform these activities in the cleaning portion of your appointment, you'll want to do everything you can to make their job easier.
Oral sedation makes you quite groggy, and you may even fall asleep. But you'll still be able to communicate with your dentist if necessary, and you'll awaken with a gentle nudge.
Aside from pointing out the evident cavity or stained teeth, dentists can tell if you are sick, highly stressed, and even pregnant! The list is extensive because “good dental health is a reflection of good health overall.” Here are a handful of things that can be discovered or learned from your visits to the dentist.
Your dentist may prescribe anti-anxiety drugs, such as diazepam (Valium), that you can take one hour before a scheduled dental visit. Your dentist may also recommend conscious sedation, such as nitrous oxide (or “laughing gas”), which can help calm nerves.
During routine dental examinations and cleanings, dentists can detect oral symptoms of stress, including orofacial pain, bruxism, temporomandibular disorders (TMJ), mouth sores and gum disease. If you're feeling tense or anxious, you should keep a watchful eye for signs of the following stress-related disorders.
While it's never too late to start taking care of yourself, those over the age of 30 must pay special attention to maintaining healthy habits. Oral health and hygiene is no exception. Teeth not only serve an important function in daily life; they reflect your overall health.
When your dentist greets you warmly and asks about your family or work, you may be thinking these are signs your dentist likes you. They're also just signs that you have a quality dentist who cares about you and wants you to be comfortable during your dental appointment.
Examining Your Tongue: Upon a closer examination of the tongue, your dentist will check the size and texture of the tongue to ensure a healthy mouth. Your tongue's size and surface can determine a lot about your dental health, as well as your overall health.
Dentists can detect clues about your overall health. Your mouth problems can be related to diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, certain types of cancers, among others. They may be the first to notice the symptoms and will refer you to a primary care doctor for follow-up.
Telling the Truth Provides Your Dentist With Important Information. The most important reason to tell your dentist the truth is that it will help them make an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan. It lets your dentist know your starting point so they can adjust their suggestions.
Upselling is a great strategy for boosting your bottom line, but it is one that most dentists probably avoid. After all, dentistry is a medical field. Selling patients treatments that they do not need may seem unethical, but there are exceptions.
Dental Materials
One specific, common material that's used for constructing dentures and temporary crowns is acrylic, and it has a strong stench that also contributes to the smell of the dental office. Another high-smelling dental material is clove oil, which is typically used in dental fillings.
You will be fully awake during your procedure but you won't be able to feel any pain. You may feel some pressure but it shouldn't hurt. When you get local anesthesia, you will get an injection (or several) in the gum around the tooth.
Some of the signs of nerve damage after receiving a dental injection may include: A lack of sensation in the area treated even after the anaesthetic should have worn off. Numbness or lack of feeling in the tongue, gums, cheeks, jaw or face. A pulling or tingly sensation in these areas.
Yes. When performed by expert dental professionals like ourselves, this procedure is regarded as safe for most people over the age of 12. However, patients with complex medical problems or unstable medical conditions may not be suitable for treatment under IV sedation.
To ensure you don't feel any pain, your dentist will numb the tooth and surrounding area. They'll either use a topical gel or local anesthetic administered by injection. This injection feels like a minor pinprick. Some dentists use nitrous oxide gas, also referred to as “laughing gas” to make you more comfortable.