Dental anxiety (also known as Dentophobia) occurs when patients have an uneasy, often frightened feeling about going to the dentist's office for a routine appointment. There are many common causes responsible for a patient's dental anxiety, which include: 

• fear of pain
• a previous dental experience that was traumatic
• trust issues
• worrying about loss of control 
• a history of generalized anxiety disorder
• fear of needles, drilling, and dental procedures in general
• discomfort stemming from an invasion of private space 
• concern caused by potential side effects of anesthesia
• the belief that the anesthesia will be ineffective 

Symptoms of Dental Anxiety

Patients who suffer from dental anxiety will experience several symptoms before their appointment, such as: 

• panic attacks
• heart palpitations (your heart skips or adds a beat)
• aggressive behavior 
• low blood pressure 
• intense sweating
• feeling faint 
• crying

Complications That Arise When Dental Visits are Avoided Due to Anxiety

Visiting your dentist consistently is crucial because it serves to maintain your oral health, which, in turn, will influence your overall health in what is commonly referred to as the mouth-body connection. 

Failure to regularly visit our dentist means that a professional is not examining your teeth, observing the bone, and confirming the health of your jaw or the soft tissue within your mouth. Also, your dentist will be unable to screen for oral cancer or identify signs of other severe conditions. 

Various consequences can result from your dental anxiety preventing you from seeing the dentist, such as: 

• bleeding and swollen gums 
• constant bad breath
• sensitivity to hot or cold foods and beverages
• pain during chewing
• increased dental decay, which would require more restorative work 
• loss of gum tissue and bone when an infection increasingly develops in the teeth and gums
• loss of teeth due to decay
• missing the early indicators of oral cancer and other systemic conditions

Can Dental Anxiety Affect Patients of all Ages? 

Yes, dental anxiety can be experienced by patients of all ages, especially when you consider that the fear often comes from a past traumatic dental experience. Frequently, a child will have an unfortunate experience at the dental office and allow that encounter to shape their perception of the dentist for many years. Their dental anxiety essentially follows them into adulthood and it becomes very difficult to overcome. 

Why you Should Choose Sedation Dentistry 

With sedation dentistry, you can overcome dental anxiety and, after utilizing it the first time, then become more comfortable during future appointments. Our practices sedation options can reduce discomfort or eliminate it, while also helping limit your anxiety as the treatment progresses. 

Types of Sedation for Patients with Dental Anxiety in Victoria, British Columbia

Intravenous sedation (IV)

Our dentists will inject a sedative into a vein either on your hand or arm. This method is generally used for patients about to undergo extensive dental treatment or for highly anxious patients. Throughout the procedure, your dentist will monitor the oxygen level and, if necessary, provide additional oxygen. If you opt for IV sedation, you will be awake and extremely calm. 

Oral sedation

One example of an oral medication would be Halcion, which influences the central nervous system and helps patients relax. Because they require 30 minutes of waiting before their effects are felt and might cause drowsiness in the hours that follow the procedure, oral sedation is not the most common sedation method. 

Laughing gas

Also known as nitrous oxide, laughing gas is inhaled through a rubber face mask and it helps you reach a state of relaxation quickly. It is one of the most common types of sedation used at the dental office and the effects swiftly diminish once the gas is turned off. Also, this is the one form of sedation that allows patients to drive home after the procedure has concluded and eat food within 12 hours of the treatment. 

How to know which type of sedation is best for you? Speak to our dentist at Elements Dental

If you remain uncertain as to which type of sedation you should depend on, you can contact our team at Elements Dental to visit our office in Downtown Victoria, British Columbia. Our dentist will address your questions and concerns, then work with you to determine the sedation that would be most suitable. We look forward to helping you get the dental care you need!