Do you fear going to the dentist? You’re not alone; in fact this fear is more common than you might think…
Did you know that approximately 75% of Americans are known to experience varying levels of fear and anxiety about visiting the dentist? And even more 5-10% develops a fear known as ‘Dentophobia’ or ‘dentist phobia’. The most common way people develop dental fears is through a direct experience. Most people who experience dental fear can report that their dental fear may have begun after a traumatic, difficult, or painful dental experience Here at Curtis R. Couch we pride ourselves on providing a calm and relaxed atmosphere that can put our patients at ease. Dr. Curtis R. Couch ensures he spends the extra time needed to develop a strong relationship with his patients to let them know they are in good hands. Whether your reservations about your upcoming dental appointment are mild or as extreme as the above phobias, sedation dentistry may be the treatment you need to calm your nerves and put you at ease during your visit. At Curtis R. Couch D.D.S in Thousand Oaks California we offer patients experiencing anxiety dental sedation options to help them relax during their visit.Stay as cool as a cucumber…
Going to the dentist shouldn’t be scary, here at Curtis R. Couch D.D.S we ensure your visit is calm and relaxing every step of the way. However we understand that often some people have developed serious fears and phobias which may lead them to feel anxious or worried about their visit. With the use of sedation dentistry we can help you make through your treatment without too many worries.There are two main reasons why we use sedation dentistry…
When prescribing sedatives in dentistry we tend to use them for two main reasons, one is the use during surgical or invasive procedures and the other, as mentioned prior, is for patients who experience a fear or phobia of the dentist and require assistance in order to relax during examinations and treatments. Here at Curtis R. Couch D.D.S we will aim to make every visit with us as comfortable as possible. This is why we are happy to offer Nitrous Oxide (laughing gas) to our patients. When booking an appoint we recommended notifying our receptionists if you are nervous about visiting the dentist so that we can make all of the proper preparations. As for surgical procedures we often need to use sedation dentistry to help ensure our patients do not experience any discomfort during their treatment.What is sedative will be used to put me at ease?
To comfort our patients we use nitrous oxide or laughing gas as the primary means of sedation. Nitrous oxide is completely safe as the patient receives 50-70% oxygen with no less than 30% nitrous oxide. You will be able to breathe on your own and remain in control of all bodily functions. Nitrous Oxide is a sweet-smelling, non-irritating, colorless gas which is inhaled to calm patients and keep them comfortable during their dental treatment. If you’re worried about needles (as many patients are) it’s comforting to know that we will not require any needles to treat you with nitrous oxide. Using nitrous oxide to ease your dental worries will ensure your visit is enjoyable and will put your fears or phobias at rest. Other benefits include:- The depth of sedation can be altered at any time to increase or decrease sedation.
- You don’t have to worry about getting ‘sedation hangover’ as there is no after affect.
- Inhalation sedation is safe with no side effects on your heart and lungs, etc.
- Inhalation sedation is very effective in minimizing gagging.
- It works quickly as it reaches the brain within 20 seconds and within as little as 2-3 minutes its relaxation and pain killing properties develop.