Learn more about what the American Dental Association has to say about overcoming dental anxiety.
Use toothpaste with fluoride for infants and children
For children younger than 3 years, you should begin brushing a child’s teeth with fluoride toothpaste in an amount no larger than a grain of rice. For children 3 to 6 years of age, use a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste.
Consider sealants to prevent decay or treat beginning cavities on the back teeth
Dental sealants act as a barrier to prevent cavities. They are a plastic material applied by a dentist to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth where decay occurs most often.
To read the entire article visit MouthHealthy.org.
If the thought of seeing your dentist gives you chills every six months, an anesthetic may be the solution. Sedation dentistry uses a combination of techniques, ranging from nitrous oxide or "laughing gas" to general anesthesia, to relax a patient during surgeries or otherwise uncomfortable appointments. For even the most severe dental phobias, there is no longer a reason to avoid the dentist altogether.
Settings that Practice Anti-Anxiety
The dental office has long been the most common setting for routine dental procedures that use sedation and anti-anxiety techniques. These techniques can be used for any type of dental procedure depending on the needs of the patient. Ultimately, your fears and phobias can be managed so that you can receive the dental care you require no matter where the treatment takes place.
Are You a Candidate for Sedation?
Your overall health, as well as physical and mental conditions you may be battling at the time, are important to be able to safely undergo certain types of sedation ñ especially in the dental office. Certain of these conditions may require clearance from a physician: cardiac disease, hypertension, diabetes and respiratory diseases should all be addressed prior to a given type of sedation. Your dentist will take a thorough medical history and physical assessment before proceeding, and if need be, recommend a product like Colgate® Total® Advanced Deep Clean to get home care on the right track. He or she may also ask you to receive medical clearance from your physician.
To read the entire article written by James Burke Fine DMD, please visit Colgate.com
The
Complete Range of Sedation
Dentistry Options
We are a compassionate dental practice, and we understand that
treatments create much anxiety for some patients. We can help
you to relieve your fears and make visits to the dentists easy
with conscious sedation dentistry.
We are one of the few offices in the state that has the training
and qualifications to utilize both oral and IV sedation for our
patients. Sometimes only lighter sedation is needed, so we use
nitrous oxide or laughing gas.
With oral conscious sedation, you take a pill one hour before
your treatment time. Before treatment begins, you will gradually
reach a very calm state but still be conscious to respond to
questions from the doctor. Your vital signs are monitored while
the work is being performed. After your procedure is completed,
you will have someone drive you home. In only an hour, you are
back to normal.
With
IV sedation, you have the highest level of sedation in the
shortest amount of time to take effect. The advantage over
taking a pill is that the sedation level can be completely
controlled, as the medication is given directly into the
bloodstream. This approach is very safe and accurate. You will
not remember the procedure and time goes by quickly – an hour in
the chair will seem like two minutes. IV sedation can be used
for longer appointments for more extensive work, as well as
relieving the anxieties of fearful patients.
Some patients have even greater fear of being “put under.” You
are not completely “knocked out” as for surgery. The sedation
level is enough to forget the procedure but still have control
of your perception of what is happening around you. It releases
any stress and lets you feel comfortable while the work is being
performed.
Lim and Yabu
Geraldine Lim, DDS & Eric Yabu, DDS
4174 Park Boulevard, Suite A
Oakland, CA 94602
(510) 530-7000
OaklandLaserDentist.com
If the thought of seeing your dentist gives you chills every six months, an anesthetic may be the solution. Sedation dentistry uses a combination of techniques, ranging from nitrous oxide or "laughing gas" to general anesthesia, to relax a patient during surgeries or otherwise uncomfortable appointments. For even the most severe dental phobias, there is no longer a reason to avoid the dentist altogether.
The
Complete Range of Sedation
Dentistry Options
