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Posts for tag: dental anxiety

Studies have shown that as many as 75 out of every 100 people fear dental visits; and for 10 to 15 of them, the fear is so great that they never get treatment — leading to serious dental problems and worse. Untreated disease in your teeth and gums can negatively affect the health of your entire body.
How can you conquer your fears so you can get the treatment you need? The answer includes (a) working with us to overcome your fears and have a positive experience while undergoing dental treatment, and (b) using oral sedation or anti-anxiety medication to help you quell your fears and relax.
Overcoming Your Fears
People develop fear of the dentist when they have a bad dental experience themselves, or sometimes when they hear of a bad experience someone else has had. The more you are afraid, the more you feel the symptoms of fear, and the more you connect those symptoms with the experience. You need to stop this negative memory sequence and replace the feelings of fear and loss of control with memories of good experiences and feelings of being in control.
It helps to know that you are not alone in your fears and that you can do something positive about them. First, make an appointment to discuss your fears with us, your dental professionals. Start with small procedures that cause only mild anxiety, and give yourself adequate time to get over your fears.
Using Oral Sedation
You have already gradually reduced your fear through your discussions and previous appointments. When you are ready to go to the next step, consider using oral sedatives or “anxiolytics” (meaning that they dissolve anxiety) to help you feel relaxed and comfortable.
Oral sedation — so called because you take it by mouth — allows you to let your guard down and focus on feeling peaceful, yet you remain awake and in control. The medication is either placed under your tongue and dissolved there (sublingual) or swallowed whole. Since it is taken by mouth, it does not require an injection, so it is easily taken by people who are afraid of injections.
The oral sedative and anxiolytic medications dentists use have been subjected to rigorous research and testing and have a long safety record after decades of use.
By using this two-step process you can reduce your fears and begin to get the care you need. And we, your dental professionals, are able to work more efficiently because we can focus on the work at hand, knowing that you are comfortable and relaxed.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment to talk about any fears you may have. You can also learn more by reading the Dear Doctor magazine articles “Overcoming Dental Fear & Anxiety” and “Oral Sedation Dentistry.”

Belton
561 North Scott Ave. Suite A
Belton, MO 64012
(816) 331-4333
fax: (816) 318-8178
Adrian
20 E. Main St.
Adrian, MO 64720
(816) 297-2297
Archive:
- 2019
- January (6)
- Stay Hydrated in Winter for Better Year-Round Oral Hygiene
- Want to Keep Enjoying Winter Sports? Wear a Mouthguard!
- Protecting Primary Teeth from Decay Helps Ensure Future Dental Health
- Implant-Supported Dentures Could Boost Your Jawbone Health
- How a New Approach to Treating Decay Could Benefit You
- Topical Fluoride is a Safe Way to Protect Your Child's Teeth from Decay
- 2018
- December (6)
- Inflammation is a Key Element in Both Oral and Systemic Diseases
- Practice Daily Oral Hygiene to Prevent Calcified Plaque Formation
- Dental Visits are Key to Detecting Early Developing Tooth Decay
- 3 Things You Might Notice with Your Child's Teeth That Need a Dentist
- Managing Diabetes and Gum Disease Together will Lessen the Effect of Both
- Support Your Child's Dental Development with Preventive Care
- November (6)
- Moderate Your Child's Juice Drinking to Lower Tooth Decay Risk
- Diabetes and Oral Health: True or False?
- TMD and Fibromyalgia Could Share Links in Chronic Pain
- The Connection Between GERD and Oral Health
- Gum Surgery Can Improve Your Smile and Save Your Teeth
- A Stainless Steel Crown Could Help a Struggling Primary Molar Last Longer
- October (6)
- Keep up Regular Dental Care While You're Pregnant
- Don't Stress Over Your Child's Teeth Grinding Habit Unless it Persists
- New Dental Advances Promise Better Outcomes for Treating Decay
- What You Should Know About a Home Teeth Whitening Kit
- Be Sure to Have a Dental Exam Before Whitening Your Teeth
- Although a Challenge, Chronically Ill Children Need Tooth Decay Prevention
- September (6)
- 4 Reasons You Should Begin Your Child's Dental Visits by Age One
- Office Fluoride Treatments Can Add Extra Protection to Your Child's Teeth
- Effective Oral Hygiene is Key to Disease Prevention While Wearing Braces
- Treating Gum Disease around Tooth Roots is Hard - but Not Impossible
- See Your Dentist if You're Having one of These 3 Dental Problems
- Seek Immediate Treatment for this Advanced Form of Gingivitis
- August (6)
- Have Your Loose Tooth Examined as Soon as Possible
- Advances in Dental Health that may be Waiting for us Just around the Corner
- Treating a Child's Tooth Injury May Require Special Consideration
- Sleep Apnea Might be Robbing you of More than a Good Night's Sleep
- Veneers may Offer a Less Invasive Way to Transform Your Smile
- 5 Causes of Bad Breath and What You Can Do About It!
- July (7)
- Some Patients Might Need Antibiotics Before Routine Dental Work
- A Second Root Canal Treatment May Help Save an Endangered Tooth
- Tooth-Colored Fillings Provide a Viable Alternative to Dental Amalgam
- What Happens in a Root Canal Treatment and How it Can Save Your Tooth
- Porcelain Veneers Could Change Your Appearance for the Better
- Need an Effective but Affordable Tooth Replacement? Look at a Flexible RPD
- Your Gum Tissue 'Biotype' Could Determine How Gum Disease Affects You
- June (6)
- Increase Bone Mass for Dental Implants through Grafting
- Saving a Diseased Primary Tooth Could Mean Better Oral Health Later in Life
- Gum Disease is Still a Threat to Your Dental Implants
- Watch What Carbs You Eat to Reduce Your Risk of Further Gum Disease
- Bone Grafting Might be Necessary Before You Obtain an Implant
- The Risk for Gum Disease Increases While Wearing Braces
- March (5)
- Periodontal Surgery may be Needed to Halt Gum Disease and Encourage Healing
- Prompt Treatment for Gum Disease Could Ultimately Save Your Teeth
- Provisional Restorations let you Try out Your New Smile First
- 3 Fluoride Sources You Should Monitor for Your Family's Dental Health
- Topical Fluoride can Enhance Your Child's Dental Care
- 2017
- December (5)
- The Perils of a Loose Permanent Tooth - and What to do About it
- Cosmetic Questions to Ask to Get You on the Right Path to a Better Smile
- Your Age Won't Necessarily Decide Against Straightening Your Smile
- Give Yourself the Gift of a New Smile
- Look at Your Options for Saving a Tooth First Before Replacing it
- September (5)
- A Teen with a Missing Tooth May Need to Wait on a Dental Implant
- Waiting to Afford Implants? Consider a Flexible RPD in the Meantime
- Risk Factors for Gum Disease
- Sedation Can Help Create a More Positive Dental Experience for a Child
- Stay Vigilant with Oral Hygiene to Avoid Another Bout of Gum Disease
- June (5)
- Loose Adult Teeth Require Immediate Attention and Treatment
- We may Need to Remove one or More Teeth Before Applying Braces
- A Smile Makeover Depends on Balancing Technique with Beauty
- Take Care of Your Dental Appliance to Extend its Longevity
- No- or Minimal-Prep Veneers Reduce Permanent Alterations to Your Teeth
- 2016
- October (5)
- Extracting Certain Teeth can Boost Orthodontic Effectiveness
- Ease Your Child's Discomfort During Teething
- Keeping up Good Hygiene Still a Necessity with Dental Implants
- An Infected or Injured Primary Tooth Can Be Saved - but it's Complicated
- Make Efforts to Protect Your Teeth from Disease While Wearing Braces
- August (5)
- Antibiotics Could Help Ensure your Implant Surgery is Successful
- Root Planing Cleans Plaque from Tooth Roots Without Surgery
- See Your new Look Before Dental Work with a 'Trial Smile'
- Proper Brushing and Flossing Removes Disease-Causing Plaque
- Local Anesthesia Eliminates Pain Completely During Dental Work
- June (5)
- Replacing a Tooth or Saving it - Which Should you do?
- Getting the Full Picture of Your Decay Risk Leads to Better Prevention Strategies
- That Small Mouth Sore is Likely Nothing - but Still Have it Checked
- Home Whitening Kits are Safe and Effective, if Used the Right Way
- 4 Things You Should be Doing to Maintain a Healthy Mouth
- March (5)
- Implant-Supported Dentures - a Better Fit with Excessive Bone Loss
- Know the Kind of Smile You Want Before Cosmetic Dental Treatment
- 3 Tips for Minimizing Enamel Erosion from Sports Drinks
- Regular Screenings Could Help With Early Oral Cancer Detection
- Though not Always Seen, it's Still Important to Replace a Missing Back Tooth
- 2015
- December (5)
- Implant-based Overdentures may be a Better Long-Term Fit Option
- Treating Dry Mouth is Important for Maintaining Good Oral Health
- Your Dentist can Help Guide you in the Best Treatment Option for Sleep Apnea
- Limit Acidic Beverages to Protect Your Child's Tooth Enamel from Erosion
- Three Considerations for Working with Your Dentist on Your Smile Makeover
- October (5)
- Your Veneers Have 'Staying Power' - if Cared for Properly
- A Root Canal Treatment may be Your Best Chance to Save a Tooth
- Keeping Fluoride to Just the Right Amount Protects Your Family's Smiles
- FAQs: Keeping Your Mouth Healthy After Gum Disease Treatment
- You May Need Surgery to Repair the Damage of Gum Recession
- 2014
- 2013
- 2012
- August (7)
- Maintenance Manual for Your Teeth and Gums
- Lasers, An Important Dental Diagnosis Tool
- A Smile Makeover Can Help Boost Self-Confidence
- “Prepless” Porcelain Veneers: Are They Right For You?
- Bleaching — An Excellent Tool For Whitening Stained Teeth
- The Elements of a Beautiful Smile
- Is It Time For A Smile Makeover?
- 2011
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