Dental Fear Solutions

IV SEDATION OVERVIEW

Dr Laura Fee regularly provides emergency dental care for patients experiencing dental pain and infection. She was awarded the Diploma in Conscious Sedation and has many years’ experience in treating nervous and dental phobic adult and paediatric patients. Dr Laura Fee is an expert in the administration of inhalation and intravenous conscious sedation for nervous dental patients undergoing complex dental treatment. This permits us to provide intravenous (IV) sedation here at Smile Hub Dental Clinic. IV sedation is the most effective dental fear solutions which can be provided by a qualified dentist in a dental practice.

The method of IV sedation uses an anti-anxiety drug called midazolam which is added into the blood stream through a small IV tube. This drug makes the patient feel extremely relaxed in a fast and safe way where patients are monitored closely and they will lose any feeling of fear or anxiety. This is why we believe IV sedation is such a vital dental fear solution in the dental industry.

The drug known as Midazolam which is used during IV sedation produces partial or full memory loss for the period of time during their treatment so most patients will have no recollection of the treatment which is great for removing any fear or anxiety for future treatments needed. Even though it may feel like the patient is unconscious this technique is classed as conscious sedation as it is important to be able to communicate with the patient during the treatment to ensure they feel comfortable.

Before any treatment is provided one of our friendly Smile Hub dentists will have an assessment appointment to talk about the different treatment options. Once the right treatment plan is chosen there will be a discussion about consent and advice. IV sedation can be a strong sedative which means it is very important to have an adult accompany the patient after treatment as they will still feel drowsy. As a precaution we recommend that someone stays with you for the rest of the day to ensure the patients safety.

The Smile Hub Dental team are trained to give sedation and will monitor the patient closely while using the appropriate monitoring equipment. The patient will then be moved to the recovery area to rest, continuing to be monitored until they have made a full recovery from the sedation.

NITROUS ‘HAPPY AIR’ OXIDE SEDATION OVERVIEW

Nitrous Oxide is also known as happy air or N2O. It has been proven to be an incredibly safe and effective technique of helping adults and children feel more relaxed during dental treatments. This type of sedation means that the patient is awake and aware. Due to this it is safe to use on patients of all age groups. Nitrous Oxide produces a happy and positive feelings which helps the patient to feel more relaxed, detached and at ease. Here at Smile Hub Dental Clinic, we provide Nitrous Oxide to both adults and children to help them get through their anxiety and to prevent any further fears in the future.

This form of sedation poses the least risk as any affects it causes stop once the mask is removed. Laughing gas is a good option for patients who have a dental phobia as it helps you to relax. Before any treatment is provided our Smile Hub team will book you in for an assessment appointment where a treatment plan and sedation will be chosen.

During Nitrous Oxide sedation, a mask is placed over your nose where the dentist will ask you to take deep breaths. Relaxation techniques such as slow, deep breathing are used to help make the technique even more effective.

Unlike IV sedation, memory loss is not experienced. This can actually help build patient confidence as they are able to remember their achievements as well as any useful tools they learned. This can help allow future appointments to be even easier. The patient will feel the effects of the laughing gas quite quickly but once the mask is removed this will wear off in a few moments. Due to this, patients are fine after their treatment and can drive if needed. This sedation can be used for many treatments but more invasive treatment may need more than laughing gas.

COGNITIVE BEHAVIOURAL THERAPY (CBT) OVERVIEW

A phobia of the dentist is very common and in Ireland about 20% of the population report having dental fear or anxiety. Many people are completely fine with going to the dentist as over time they have built up a trust with them until they feel comfortable and they understand that the dentist is there to provide help and advice.

Although, going to the dentist may not seem like a big deal for people without dental phobias, it can be nearly impossible for patients who have dental anxiety and fear. They cannot rationalise going to the dentist as over time their perception of the dentist has become negative which acts as a barrier to stop them getting the help or treatment which they need. A dentist has always had a negative perception on television and in cartoons as a child which can put this in a person’s mind. It can also commonly be related to bad experiences in the past which can contribute to fears becoming more heightened. Once these fears are heightened it can lead to patients feeling sick, anxious, sweating and their heart racing which is enough to overpower the need to go to the dentist. This is a huge problem as avoiding the dentist while something is small can lead to needing more invasive treatment if the problem is left untreated. Dental phobias basically lead to a vicious cycle which results in bad oral health, appearance, pain and in some cases quality of life.

If you are a person who suffers with dental anxiety and fear than a solution known as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) may be perfect for you. This is a talking therapy which is used to try to break the cycle and change the negative perception of the dentist to help you become more relaxed and comfortable in a dental environment. Research has shown that CBT is the one of the best methods to treat dental fear and provide effective and long-lasting results for many patients who use it for dental anxiety.

At Smile Hub Dental Clinic, we are fortunate to be able to refer our dental phobic patients to some of the best CBT therapists in Dublin. There are many different solutions to treat people with dental anxiety but this is the best to get rid of the fear all together.

ANXIETY/ DEPRESSION AND DENTAL FEAR OVERVIEW

Anxiety and depression are conditions which are becoming increasingly common in Ireland. The positive thing about it becoming more common is that people are speaking about it which is helping to come up with coping mechanisms. Anxiety and depression can have an effect on many aspects of a person’s life. Dental appointments are one of these factors which can be affected. Here at Smile Hub Dental Clinic, our team understands that there are many various factors that can contribute to both dental anxiety and mental health. These can start to intertwine and result in a vicious cycle that can cause a person to avoid the dentist, deterioration of dental health and even reduced quality of life. This is why breaking this cycle is so vital. Our Smile Hub dentists have fortunately been able to provide dental care and support for our patients with many different issues that affected their perception of dentistry, their dental health, their self-confidence or even just the thought of the interacting with their dentist.

Some of the issues which can an affect on a dental patient such as generalised anxiety, social phobia, panic attacks/ disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, agoraphobia, depression, mood disorders or other phobias can all be part of this cycle. Every patient is different which is why our Smile Hub Dental team work had and aim to find the unique and correct solution of each patient Niall’s aim is to find the unique path forward that is right for you.

If you want to discuss how we can help you just call 01 525 3888 or book online where one of our friendly Smile Hub Team members will help you start your journey of dental fear solutions.