Dentist in Greenville, SC Offering Anxiety-Free Dental Care for Dental Anxiety
If you fall within the 145 million Americans who have anxiety or fear of the dentist, you should know that there are ways to make a trip to the dentist seem like a relaxing nap. Sedation dentistry is being used by more dentists than ever before as this crippling fear which so many potential guests carry with them becomes more understood. Finding a dentist who provides an anxiety-free experience used to be hard, but this is no longer the situation for guests in the Greenville, SC area thanks to Dr. John Palmer and the team at Palmer Distinctive Dentistry. Dr. Palmer provides anxiety-free dental care to guests in the Greenville, SC area who carry this crippling fear of the dentist.
Dental Anxiety
Fear. Anxiety. Stress. These are all terms that are used to describe dental anxiety, which can be debilitating to many guests who are considering seeing a dentist. This anxiety is a leading cause in individuals either delaying or outright avoiding dental exams and treatment that is necessary to maintaining a healthy mouth, teeth, and gums. There are several triggers that can set off dental anxiety including the sound of drills, the prick of a needle needed to administer local anesthesia, or even the dental setting itself. This anxiety can range from minor to severe and can result in total avoidance of the dentist due to irrational fear that cannot be controlled.
Knowing the Symptoms of Dental Anxiety
Individuals who suffer from dental anxiety may exhibit some of the following symptoms:
- Tachycardia (a racing heartbeat) and/or palpitations
- Sweating
- Fainting due to a lowered blood pressure
- Panic and visible distress
- Masking of anxiety with humor
Guests who suffer from dental anxiety will often postpone dental appointments, even in cases where the care is critically necessary and would find it impossible to go through even the simplest of dental exams and procedures.
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Long Term Effect of Dental Anxiety on Your Oral Health
Because many who suffer from dental anxiety will postpone or outright cancel appointments with their dentist, the result can be further deterioration of their dental health, a heightened need for emergency dental care, or a need for more invasive and complex treatments due to the neglect of oral health.
Since this anxiety can keep many who suffer from it from turning up to regular dental exams, cleanings and x-rays, many developing dental health issues will not be detected until there is noticeable pain and/or visible signs of the ailment. This makes more invasive treatment necessary.
Because most dental diseases are preventable, those who avoid the dentist are more likely to require complex treatments that could have been avoided. Those who avoid the dentist are also missing out on advice and education on how to better care for their oral health. All of these factors can lead to deterioration of oral health.
What Causes Dental Anxiety?
Understanding dental anxiety requires recognizing the factors and causes that can lead to this fear. Causes can include:
- An experience with the dentist in the past which was traumatic
- Past trauma to the neck and/or head
- Past experiences outside of the dentist which were traumatic, including abuse
- General anxiety in the individual’s everyday life
- Depression or post-traumatic stress disorder
- Viewing the mouth as personal space and anybody who tries to access it is invading their personal space
- A phobia of loss of control
- Issues with trust
- Anxiety and phobias which may not seem related to dentistry including agoraphobia (a fear of feeling like one cannot escape), claustrophobia (one’s fear of enclosed spaces) and/or OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder)
Sedation Dentistry at Palmer Distinctive Dentistry
If you are one of the millions of Americans who suffer from dental anxiety, Dr. John Palmer provides sedation therapy in the form of an oral sedative called Triazolam. This oral sedative has proven to be incredibly safe with no side effects. Triazolam provides the guest with a dental experience akin to a comfortable nap. There will be very little memory of the appointment and you will be able to leave the stress, fear and discomfort that causes dental anxiety behind. To learn more about sedation dentistry offered by Dr. John Palmer, please call (864) 879-6494 today for a consultation or appointment.
