Dental Phobia Explained By London dentist

Fear can be a very powerful thing. It can make us avoid situations, cause panic and nausea and in some cases cause a complete paralysis. Anyone who has experienced severe fear, or phobia, will tell you how distressing it can be and how much you try to avoid any situation that could cause an adverse reaction. In many cases of phobia, the object in question is easily avoided. Looking after your teeth is important and will hopefully help you avoid any nasty dental complications. But what if you are afraid of the dentist to the point you can’t ever bring yourself to visit for a check up or even more importantly, for treatment?

Dental phobia is a very real and damaging fear that prevents many thousands of people receiving the treatment they need to keep their teeth healthy. But there are ways to successfully overcome dental phobia without resorting to extreme measures. Many dental phobias are caused by past traumatic experiences. In many cases this occurred when the patient was child. It is important to realise that dentistry in the modern world is very different to how it was forty, thirty of even twenty years ago. Modern dentists are more attuned to the fear of many patients. They are specially trained to help patients overcome anxiety and will employ certain methods to help you obtain the treatment you need.

One of the simplest ways to overcome dental phobia is simply to talk to a dentist. This will often help to alleviate certain fears caused by not knowing what treatment involves. Other successful methods include teaching self-relaxation methods such as breathing exercises and also using calming aromatherapy. Ask your London dentist about how you can overcome your fears.You can rest assured that you wont be the first nervous patient they have seen and they will be trained to help you relax and talk you through exactly what might happen during your appointment. Removing the element of the unexpected and knowing what to expect can be very useful to help you assuage your anxieties.

Sedation dentistry can be used on any patient who is anxious about receiving any kind of dental treatment, be it cosmetic or restorative. In some cases this can help the patient to overcome their fears once they realize that there is little or no extended pain involved in the dental procedures. Sedation dentistry can also be used on patients who suffer from very sensitive teeth and find normal treatment very painful. It can also be used for patients who have medical conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and Cerebral Palsy.

The three main types of sedation are oral conscious sedation, inhalation sedation and intravenous sedation. Each will be used depending on the conditions and the needs of the patient. The dentist may also use local or general anaesthetic to numb specific areas of the body or mouth.

Dentists also offer relaxation techniques such as breathing exercises and self-hypnosis to help patients conquer their fears. It has also recently been found that aromatherapy, particularly lavender oil, is very good at relaxing people before appointments. Whatever the reason or level of anxiety, there is a way to overcome it and receive the dental treatment that you require.

Replacement with dental implants

As a substitute for a missing or lost tooth it is hard to beat a dental implant for realism and authenticity. Dental implants are the only dental replacement that restores the whole tooth from crown to root and as a result is the sturdiest restoration available.

There are many reasons for losing a tooth ranging from accidental damage to gum disease but whatever the cause it can be a very painful and upsetting experience at any age. If a tooth has been knocked out or extracted due to decay it can be the cause of further dental complications causing pain and anxiety so it is always recommended by dentists to replace teeth as soon as possible. If a gap is left in the dental arc then it can cause the other teeth to move or rotate. This can lead to complications with bite and also increases the likelihood of further dental infection.

The implant procedure usually takes place in three steps. Firstly, a screw is secured to the patient’s jawbone, with the top protruding just above the surface of the gum. This is then left to heal so that the bone and gum tissue can fuse to the implant in a process called osseointergration. In the second procedure a abutment is attached to the screw which will eventually allow the crown to be attached.Patients who have jawbones and gums which are strong, will particularly benefit from a dental implant. A good standard of oral hygiene is needed to maintain the implant but the permanency it provides really sets it apart from other dental substitutes.

Unlike other restorations, a dental implant will last a whole lifetime if properly cared for. Although the initial cost may be slightly more than other treatments, you need to bear in mind that once you have had implant surgery you are unlikely to need to spend any further money on future replacements.

If you are suffering from a missing tooth, see a dentist and ask about having a dental implant fitted to bring the smile back to your face.