Some days, it seems like nothing’s simple anymore. Even something as easy as making dinner can turn into a whirlwind of problems. He will be late, she doesn’t like that, things didn’t defrost fast enough, and more can make you just want to give up and order a pizza — again. All of those problems are real and reasonable, but they can still cost you.
That can happen with your dental care. It can start out simple enough. You lost a tooth, so now you need a replacement. Then the problems start to creep in. You can’t sit that long in the chair the whole thing is starting to sound scary, what if it goes the way your neighbor said her treatment went … it can be overwhelming. But you can’t just order a new tooth. If you don’t go through with the treatment at our Nashua, NH dental office, your health will likely suffer.
Thankfully, there is a way to get past those problems: sedation dentistry. Whether you use some nitrous oxide, oral medication, or IV sedation, here are seven problems solved by dental sedation.
Very Sensitive gag reflex: It may seem obvious, but in order for our dentists to work on your teeth and gums, they need to work in your mouth. For most people, it’s tolerable. It might feel a little weird, but it’s no big deal. There are people who have a very sensitive gag reflex. Even biting down on something near the back of your mouth can make you choke and gag. If this might sound like a problem for you, sedation dentistry can help. It induces a relaxed feeling, so your gag reflex won’t be so easy to trigger. That means you can sit back and get the needed dental work done.
Bad memories: Let’s say you have a dog to train. He keeps barking, and you want to stop that. To train that out of him, you deliver negative experiences when he barks, such as a stern voice or a light yank on the chain. It doesn’t have to be painful or horrible, just negative. Do it enough times, and the dog learns barking is bad.
We’re certainly not dogs, but the same principle applies. If we have negative experiences when at a dental office, we will learn that dentistry is bad. Even though you fully understand how important it is to visit the dentist, bad memories can make you think dentistry is wrong and should be avoided.
The only way past that is through sedation dentistry. You need to build up a series of good visits, ones where you are not experiencing fear or anxiety. Your body learns that dentistry is good. That lets you get the care you need.
Bad assumptions: It’s not just about personal memories. Sometimes, just hearing about someone else’s bad experiences can be enough to trigger anxiety. From those stories, you assume problems can very well happen to you at your next visit. Assumptions aren’t always wrong, but you know how stories tend to get inflated by the storyteller. Regardless of the story’s accuracy, it still impacts you.
As with bad memories, sedation dentistry can help you get past any assumptions made based on stories of bad experiences. You’ll be so relaxed that you won’t care about what someone told you. You’ll be able to rest comfortably and let the work begin.
Special needs: At our Nashua, NH dental office, we want to help everyone get the dental care they need. Some of our patients have special needs and might need help sitting still, staying calm, or otherwise getting past anxiety. Dental sedation can help lower the impact of those special needs. Of course, you’ll need to talk to our dentists about any medication you are currently taking.
Need to save time: Some patients need several treatments before their teeth are the way they should be. For example, you might need 2-3 dental crowns or an extraction followed by an implant. These things take time, and it can get tiresome or even annoying to be in the chair for that long. If this is the case, having dental sedation can help. You stay relaxed under this treatment, so you can get through all of your procedures without having to come back in several times over the next few weeks.
Resistance to anesthetic: There are people who are naturally resistant to pain medication and anesthesia. Redheads, for example, have a gene that reduces the effectiveness of both. If you’ve had problems with pain management the past, sedation dentistry can make you feel so relaxed that you feel less pain.
Between nitrous oxide, oral medication, and IV sedation, we have a way to help with anxiety and fear. Call us today at 603-546-7460 for more information on how sedation dentistry from our dentist in Nashua, NH can help you get the care you deserve.