We all know visiting the dentist can be daunting for most people but we also understand how terrifying it can be to those of us who have had traumatic experiences in the past and therefore lost faith and trust in healthcare professionals. Professionals are the people who you should have faith in.
That’s exactly what we at Ashford Dental Care train and work hard to be every day. Professional.
We source new ways to put our patients at ease, to educate, and implement them as part of our integrative approach to dentistry.
In this blog I will summarise a few of the articles on our website and highlight the key points.
Overcoming fear and anxiety can be difficult and taking that first step is daunting. Dear Doctor explains just how to develop a trusting relationship with the right dentist.

• Firstly the key points to consider when selecting the right dentist
• Discussion and Openness -Does the Dentist engage open discussion about treatment and options?
• Listening- Does the dentist listen to you in a non-judgemental way, understanding your fears and concerns?
• Control- Does the dentist let you decide and give you control over procedures and time to make informed decisions?

If the dentist does then you are more likely to feel comfortable with them as it is an open relaxed non pressured environment. If there is still stress or fear there are other methods to help which will be discussed later. It is about working to reduce your fear rather than simply fixing the teeth.
Making patients more comfortable is important because when you are stressed and afraid you behave differently whether it is consciously or unconsciously. Fear also means you release chemicals such as adrenaline which engages a flight or fight response; you perceive a threat and therefore react. You tense your muscles and are likely to experience sensitivity to pain making the experience worse than if you were calm.
So.. How do we alleviate the fear and keep our patients calm
• Oral sedatives
• Inhalation
• IV sedation also known as Deep conscious sedation
Oral sedatives are drugs that you take prior to visiting the dentist; they are anxiolytics with some amnesic properties. They allow relaxation and time to pass in minutes.
Inhalation or as it is otherwise known nitrous oxide/ laughing gas is an excellent analgesic (pain reliever) and give a euphoric feeling, however not as effective for relieving anxiety and effects only last whilst you are breathing in through the hood. It also has no hang over effects.
IV sedation, dental professionals need specialised training to offer this option. It works immediately and the levels can be adjusted easily to reduce pain and anxiety. It is a slightly high risk option as heart rate; breathing and blood pressure have to be monitored throughout. The drugs are more effective due to the IV going directly into the blood stream; therefore amnesia of dental treatment while sedated is often profound.
Things to consider if you require conscious sedation
It is important that your dentist discusses which of these apply to your situation.
• Disclose all medications, including over the counter, or any herbal remedies that you are taking. Even some herbal medications like St Johns Wort can cause drug interactions.
• Provide a concise medical history.
• Be prepared to take a day off of work, certain procedures can take half a day at least.
• Do not drive yourself to and from treatment and bring a family member with you. Sometimes the after effects can last a few hours after treatment.
• You may not be able to eat 6 hours before depending on advice from dentist. Certain foods may not be eaten such as grapefruit days prior to sedation as they interact with oral or iv sedation drugs.
• Tell the dentist about your alcohol intake or if you smoke.
• Stay hydrated.
For more information please read the articles in our sedation and phobic patients sections by clicking here

We want all our patients to feel safe and comfortable in our surgery, if you wish to discuss sedation techniques book in and visit us for a treatment plan and chat and we will work with you to decide the best course of treatment for you and at your own pace.