RELAX! You are in good hands!

Do you feel anxious simply from the idea of going to the dentist?

Have you ever previously avoided teeth cleanings or preventive dental care on account of fear?

Hesitation in the area of dental care is a quite typical fear. Approximately 50% of the public feels nervous or uncomfortable regarding going to the dentist or having dental treatments completed.

Certainly one of our key goals is to help make our patients truly feel calm and comfortable during any sort of dental visit.

Nothing else matters without having a caring and understanding team in your corner. We are going to in no way make the patient feel uncomfortable about their dental needs, and we strive to understand and take care of patients as unique individuals.

Here is a list of many of the most common dental fears:

Fear of embarrassment about the current condition of their teeth
Fear of gagging
Fear of injections
Fear of losing control
Fear of not getting numb when injected with Novocain
Fear of pain
Fear of the dental professional as a human being
Fear of the hand device (or perhaps the drill)
Fear of the unfamiliar
Fear of dental noises and smells

Recently available technological developments have meant that in some cases, dentists are able to do away with loud drills and provide quick and efficient care. Additionally, there are many safe anesthetics offered to eliminate pain and reduce stress and anxiety in the course of regular appointments. Our dental office has additionally been specially built to put you at ease by getting rid of many of the sights, noises and smells of a common dentist office you may associate along with your previous dental visits.

Comfort Treatment Options

The UMKC Dental Faculty Practice team have effective sedation capabilities. We can provide many levels of comfort.

• Topical & Local Anesthesia

We begin with a topical solution that ‘pre-numbs’ the injection area. Then the local anesthesia is used to completely numb the area being treated. This temporarily blocks feeling to the nerve and should last one to two hours or longer.

• Nitrous Oxide Gas

Almost all dentists agree that nitrous oxide gas (laughing gas) is extremely effective for scared patients. The results are predictably miraculous. A patient that was fearful walking into treatment is smiling and relaxed.

Below are great tips in lowering dental anxiety and fear:

• Talk with our doctors – Despite the fact that it could be hard to talk about irrational fears with a stranger, our doctors can take extra steps during appointments if worries and stress are disclosed.

• Bring a portable music player – Music acts as a relaxant and in addition drowns out any fear-producing sounds. Hearing some calming music throughout this visit will reduce anxiousness.

• Decide on a sign – A lot of people are frightened that the dentist will not likely know they are in substantial discomfort throughout the appointment, and will carry on the treatment regardless. The easiest method to fix this problem is to agree on a “stop” hand signal together with the dentist.

• Spray the throat – Throat sprays (for instance, Vicks® Chloraseptic® Throat Spray) may actually control the gag response. A couple of sprays will usually keep the reflex within check for about an hour.

• Take a mirror – Not having the ability to see what is going on can raise stress and anxiety and make the imagination run wild. Watching the procedure can help keep reality at the forefront of the mind.

• Sedation – Choosing a comfortable level of sedation provides an excellent alternative for many.

• Ask about procedure – Make sure you let us know the extent and depth of treatment plan explanations you may need.

• Go over all the choices with one of our doctors and choose one which is effective and creates little anxiety.

Fear Can Be Defeated

We take your fear very seriously and are also committed to providing a dental experience that will both transform your oral health and cut down on your dental fears. Should you have any concerns or questions about how UMKC Dental Faculty Practice may help you get over anxiety and fear, please get in touch with our office.