Do you feel apprehensive when it’s time to go to your Auburn Bay and Seton dentist?
Nearly everyone feels a little nervous before a dental health appointment. But some people are downright terrified of even stepping foot in a dental office.
Severe dental phobia has even led some to avoid seeing their dentist altogether. Unfortunately, lack of appropriate dental care can lead to more complex and expensive issues down the road. And that, in turn, can lead to more fear.
It’s a vicious cycle. Fortunately, dental technology has come to the rescue with drill-free fillings. Let me explain how these fillings can save you some time and make your dental visit much more comfortable.
How Wide-Spread Is Dental Phobia and What Causes It?
Back in 2012, the Huffington Post reported that approximately 40% of Canadians experience some level of dental anxiety. So, if you experience this, rest assured that you’re not alone.
What is it about going to the dentist that leads to fear? There are a number of factors, including:
- Having a bad experience in the past
- Fear of pain
- Feeling claustrophobic
- The scraping and drilling sounds of dental instruments
- Fear of needles
- Long appointments
- History of depression, anxiety, and panic attacks
- Fear of being cut, either on the lips or intraorally.
In some cases, a patient’s dental health can lead to anxiety. How so?
Some patients are simultaneously embarrassed by the condition of their oral health and worried that they’re going to get lectured about it. This combination has led many to avoid regular hygiene visits until they’re in excruciating pain.
Dental phobia is often a vicious cycle. It may have started as just a bit of nervousness but because of a bad experience, feeling embarrassed, and fear of needles or unpleasant sounds, it quickly turns into a full-fledged phobia.
Thankfully, more dental practices and product developers are taking your comfort into account.
Drill-Free Fillings from a Seton Dentist – Making Dental Visits More Patient-Friendly
Something I’m really excited to share with you and anyone else who experiences dental phobia is the option of drill-free fillings. The purpose of these types of fillings is to:
- Make the patient more comfortable
- Ensure shorter appointment times
- Encourage minimally invasive dental procedures.
How does this technology work?
There are numerous tools that can be used. But in my Seton dentist office, I use a Solea laser. Using a laser makes restorative procedures so much faster than they were in the past. In some cases, my patients are out in half the time.
Another reason I love using this tool is that it can be used on both hard and soft tissues. That means that more than one procedure can be completed in one visit. This saves you time because you won’t always have to come back for multiple restorative appointments.
The Solea laser is a very accurate tool, which allows me to remove only the damaged tissue. Less invasive procedures are more comfortable in the long run and keep your tooth structure strong and healthy.
Because the laser is so fast, I’ve been able to cut down the amount of anesthesia I use. This is great for patients whose dental phobia is partly caused by a fear of needles.
Drill-free fillings can be pain-free and sound-free, which means that they’re a good option for anyone experiencing dental phobia, including children.
A Stress-Free Dental Experience: The Goal of the OUTDOOR.dental Team
At OUTDOOR.dental, we empathize with our patients that experience dental phobia. We understand why so many people get nervous about their appointments, some even putting them off for years.
That is why we strive to make every dental visit a stress-free experience for our patients. My team consists of some of the most compassionate people you’ll ever meet. And we’re always looking out for ways to implement the latest in dental technology so that our patients feel more comfortable.
Our goal to ease our patients’ minds has moved us to offer meet-and-greet appointments. These are diagnostic- and treatment-free appointments. It’s a chance to get to know the team at my Auburn Bay dentist office, get used to the office itself, and learn about how we care for our patients.
It is our hope that you will take advantage of this opportunity, taking a step toward reducing your dental anxiety.
If you struggle with dental anxiety, we invite you to schedule a meet-and-greet appointment. Our friendly staff will help ease your mind about your time spent in the dental office.
