We take pride in offering comprehensive dental care for patients throughout Southern Indiana at the surrounding area. This is why we are saddened to hear that some patients avoid going to the dentist because of dental anxiety.
We aren’t making fun of anyone who shares those feelings. We understand the everyone (including us) has things that they fear.
Our hope is that you will contact Kirchner Dental to learn how we can help you learn to manage your anxiety and receive the benefits of the dental care we provide.
Please, before you do anything else. This will give you an opportunity to discuss how we can help you with your dental anxiety.
Why People Feel Dental Anxiety
As many as 1 in 5 Americans avoids going to the dentist due to dental anxiety. That only tells part of the story, however. Millions more American have dental anxiety but have found a way to receive the dental care that they need to maintain a healthy mouth.
If you are the 1 in 5, we want to help you become part of the 4 in 5 who are able to visit a dentist office for cleanings and other procedures.
The first step in coping with dental anxiety is to understand how your anxiety developed. Do any of these sound like reasons you may not want to come to the dentist?
- A bad experience the last time you saw a dentist
- Fear of pain
- Fear of needles
- Fear that you will be scolded for the condition of your teeth
- Fear of loss of personal space
- Fear of gagging
These aren’t the only possible reasons for dental anxiety, but odds are one or more of them can make it difficult for you to consider making a dental appointment.
How To Manage Dental Anxiety With Sedation Dentistry
There is no such thing as a one-size fits all solution to dental anxiety.
Although, sedation dentistry is about as close as you can get. Dental sedation has been around in some form or another for at least 170 years.
At Kirchner Dental, we offer two form of conscious sedation dentistry. This is conscious sedation because you are not completely asleep although you may not remember anything about your treatment.
Our strongest form of dental sedation is oral conscious sedation. All you have to do is take some medication in pill form about an hour before your appointment. This will allow you to remain relaxed and calm until the end of your treatment and beyond. You don’t feel any pain, and you won’t gag, either.
You will need a family member or friend to bring you to our office in Jeffersonville, IN, and to take you home at the end of your treatment. You will want to rest until your medication wears off.
Nitrous oxide, a.k.a. laughing gas, is a faster-acting and lighter form or sedation dentistry. Doctors and dentists have known about the effects of nitrous oxide since the late 1700s, and by the mid-1800s, it became used more commonly in dental treatment.
By inhaling the gas, you will feel a calming, euphoric sensation. You won’t feel any pain and you won’t gag, either, as long as you continue breathing it in.
At the end of your procedure, one of our dental professionals will turn off the gas. By breathing normally, you will exhale any nitrous oxide left in your system, and you will return to feeling like your normal self.
And just as important, you can know that your mouth has been cleaned professionally.
Other Ways To Manage Dental Anxiety
Sedation dentistry is a great option for many patients, but for some patients, other solutions are better.
Technology is one of the ways we can improve your experience at the dentist office. The Wand is a great example of this.
The Wand is an alternative to using a needle to administer local anesthetic. With The Wand, a computer controls how the anesthetic flows where it is needed. As a result, you don’t feel the prick of a needle, but you do receive the pain-blocking benefits.
We also offer comfort options like drinks and snacks, warm towels, blankets, and an iPad with headphones.
We have seen over and over against that feeling cozier or having something to distract you can make dental care easier on everyone at our Southern Indiana dentist office.
Start With A Conversation About Your Dental Anxiety
We are going to suggest something that may sound odd at first. Do not make an appointment for a cleaning the first time you visit our office.
Instead, schedule a consultation by calling 812-913-6093 (Jeffersonville) 812-884-8304 (New Albany) 502-430-3451 (St. Matthews) or by filling out our . This visit will give you a chance to talk to our dentist, Dr. Kirchner, at our Jeffersonville, IN, office about what we can do to help you ease your way back into the dental chair.