For Nervous Patients

What are the causes of nervousness?

Many patients find dental procedures daunting. This may be because of previous experiences, lack of familiarity with proposed procedures or just because it involves placing yourself in the control of someone else. There may also be the fear of needles if an injection may be required.Added to the nervousness is the fear of embarrassment by admitting these feelings to others.

These are common problems, with a large proportion of patients experiencing them to a greater or lesser extent. The dental team encounters these feelings in patients every day and is aware of how common they are- so you will not embarrass yourself by admitting to them - We are there to help you overcome the feelings so that the procedures are carried out with as little stress and in as pleasant a way as possible - for everybody’s benefit.

What we can do for you.

1. Your doctor or the dentist may be able to prescribe an oral sedative to take before your appointment. This may limit your ability to drive safely so you may need to arrange transport.
2. It is possible to reduce the sensation of discomfort from injections by taking an analgesic 30 minutes before your appointment. The usual tablets are Aspirin, Ibuprofen or Paracetamol. Paracetamol is best if you are having extractions or surgery, as it does not encourage the additional bleeding sometimes associated with aspirin.
3. If you don’t like the idea of injections, then we may be able to arrange to use  inhalation sedation and analgesia. This allows you to breathe in the same gas and air mix as used in childbirth. The effects are fairly quick acting and wear off within minutes of the end of treatment so that you can safely drive home without any feeling of wooziness. During treatment you have an awareness of things going on around you but are relaxed and comfortable. If you want more effect you just breathe more deeply. You will remember the procedures afterwards, but without the stress.
4. A stronger effect is the use of an intravenous sedative. This requires a small injection in the arm or back of the hand. With this procedure, the effect is more profound. You will have little or no recollection afterwards of any of the dental procedures. You will remain in a happy state of fuzziness for a few hours after the procedure and will require a responsible adult to drive you home and stay with you for a couple of hours.

Remember we want to make this a pleasant experience- if you are relaxed we can do a better job- so you don’t need to “tough it out”.
Discuss your feelings with the dentist or one of the dental team- they are there to help you.