subject: Why some people fear dentists and treatments they do [print this page] Why some people fear dentists and treatments they do
This lady admits to being something of a chicken. She sprang from her chair when her ears were pierced. She feels so jittery every time she thinks of having a couple of her teeth taken out. Getting on a dental chair ranks right up there with flying, heights and spider fear in the planet of phobias. According to the American Dental Association, about one hundred and forty five million people avoid getting dental work just because they are scared of it. But today calming those fears by putting the patient out of his or her misery, so to speak is being done by dentistry.
The woman is thrilled that this dentist not only practices general dentistry, but also completed a two year residency in anesthesia so she feels so safe. He is not an oral surgeon, but is the only dentist in the St Louis area licensed to use intravenous anesthesia to make a patient totally unconscious during a dental procedure in his office. The state requires all dentists to get a special permit if they are to give intravenous medication to patients. It is compulsory to have advanced training in anesthesia and the ability to handle emergency situations, and to have emergency equipment in their clinics as well.
Nearly everyone uses local anesthesia as a form of pain control and this is done with a swab that deadens the gum before an injection, and such is used to obstruct nerve endings from pain feelings or and numb the area where the dentist will work on. The feeling of a fat lip when you leave the clinic is the only bad part but this is temporary and so bearable.
To help patients relax, sedatives or anti anxiety agents can be used. A feeling of giddiness or euphoria is caused by laughing gas which the patient may be asked to inhale. Tranquilizers create conscious sedation wherein the patient is responsive and awake he is duly relaxed and not in a deep sleep, but feeling somnolent.
It was stated by this local dentist that conscious sedation is very safe, as long as the person is awake and verbally responsive, such as you asking, 'how you doing, Joe' and he still answers back.
With prolonged use of nitrous oxide, patients start feeling so nauseous, but such has never become a trouble if oral tranquilizers are used. On the other hand, patients requesting conscious sedation are obligated to arrive at the dentist's office with a companion, who will also be accompanying them home. The injection works almost instantly but then the oral tranquilizer entails more time to set in and do what it is supposed to do. This patient would be given a tiny pill and soon after the drug takes effect which is in half an hour or so, he is asked to return to the dental seat.
Today, we see that dentistry is very high tech and it is also supported with all sorts of gadgets which help in making the job finished much quicker. Now, with sedation dentistry, I can bridge the gap between technology and comfort. Even as you felt no pain at all while you were in the dentist's office, you could soon hurt once your bill arrives as these revolutionary pain free dentistry methods won't be covered by the average insurance plan. Conscious sedation that involves nitrous oxide is not covered by your typical dental plan. They are considered optional and patient payable expenses.
Most of what we see, medical or dental plans, have coverage for unconscious sedation otherwise known as general anesthesia, when it is medically necessary in order to treat an ailing patient.
This patient shares that she was a phobic herself too. The lady gladly shouldered the expense for the nitrous oxide which she needed. Patients with special problems like those with severe gag reflexes, severe phobias or low pain thresholds, patients who don't get numb with local anesthesia, and even very young kids often use general anesthesia or deep sedation technique.
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