Fear can be a good thing. It can help you stay away from things that can hurt you. But this becomes a problem when it keeps you away from things that help you.
If you have dental anxiety bad enough that you don’t get the care you need, then you need some help. Missing one appointment for the standard dental cleaning and dental exam is okay. Miss years’ worth, and small problems like a tiny cavity or sore gum can worsen until you need a root canal or gum disease treatment.
That’s why you need to call our Nashua, NH dental office today at
603-546-7460 and schedule your next appointment. Our dental team can help you feel relaxed with our friendly nature and comfort options. If you need more help, our dentists are trained in sedation dentistry. This way, you can get past your worries and get the dental care you need.
Dental Anxiety Is Normal
Did you know that dental anxiety is common? If you have some anxiety, worry, or concerns about going to a dentist, you’re certainly not alone. At Nashua Family Dentistry, we have worked with many people who really did not like going dental appointments. But why do people have dental anxiety? There are several reasons:
- Childhood visit: Dental offices can be a bit scary to kids, what with all the strangers and weird noises. So even if you never had a problem as a child, those visits can stick in your mind and cause you anxiety today.
- Heard stories: You don’t even have to experience a bad visit to have some dental anxiety. If a friend told you about their problem, or if you watched one in a movie or something, then someone else’s memory can color your perceptions and make you worry.
- Loss of control: Some people (especially managers or parents) are simply used to being in control most of the time. When they have to sit back and let other people do all the work, it can generate some anxiety.
- Too long since your last visit: The longer you go without a dental visit, the harder it is to make a new one. That’s because you can fear getting a lecture about showing up more. Then there’s worrying over what problems have grown worse since your last visit years ago. Sometimes, what you don’t know is troubling.
Why Sedation Dentistry Can Help
The problem with dental anxiety is that it’s not a conscious thing.
If you don’t like visiting your in-laws over the holidays, you can still go and even have a good time. You’re under control of that, so you can grin and bear it like adults do. But when it comes to dental anxiety, that’s certainly not the case.
Anxiety and worry are often out of our control. It’s something that happens even though you don’t want it to show up. When this occurs, you need to do something about it. For too many people, that means avoiding dental visits. That does make sense — if something is making you feel bad, avoid it. There, done!
Unfortunately, that’s a bad idea in dentistry. A sore muscle will get better if you ignore it, but that’s almost never true with it comes to your teeth and gums. For example, a cavity is a small hole in your enamel caused by bacteria. If it’s caught early, you can get a small filling.
But that cavity keeps growing without treatment. It can get big enough that you’ll need a dental crown instead. Worse, it can lead to an infection inside your tooth, requiring a root canal. And if that cavity gets really big, you might have to get that tooth removed.
That’s why sedation dentistry is so important. By using dental sedation, you can get the help you need to regain control. You won’t feel anxiety or concern. Instead, you’ll be relaxed and comfortable. Finally, you can get the dental treatments you need.
Oral Sedation And Comfort Options
At Nashua Family Dentistry, there are two ways you can feel more relaxed.
- Comfort options such as a soft blanket, music, and even a longer appointment (so you can avoid feeling rushed) can help.
- Oral sedation is a small pill you take one hour before your visit. You’ll need someone to drive you to and from our Nashua, NH dental office, but you’ll be put in a deeply relaxed state. You’ll probably stay conscious the entire time — you just won’t mind.
Call Nashua Family Dentistry today at 603-546-7460 or use our convenient online form to schedule your next appointment to include sedation dentistry. Don’t let your dental anxiety ruin your smile by letting easily fixed problems grow out of hand.