Dental Phobia

Phobia

What is Dental Phobia?

What can be done to help you?

Inhalation Sedation

What is Dental Phobia?

Most people are anxious to some degree about the prospect of visiting a dental surgery. However some find it either very hard or sometimes even impossible to cope. The reasons for phobia are numerous. Many people relate their problems to a bad experience in childhood. The dental phobic is often a poor attendee and therefore likely to be most in need of treatment.

There is huge difference between the dental phobic and the patient who experiences dental fear. A phobia is a quite different problem than simple fear or anxiety. The classic sign of a phobia is "avoidance behaviour". As the term suggests, the patient does virtually everything possible to avoid the threatening situation.

Avoidance is easy if the phobia is fear of heights or flying but it is much more of a problem when the phobic situation is one that we all need to confront at some times in our lives, such as dental treatment. The phobic patient is usually a very poor dental attendee and only attends when forced to do so by very extreme pain. The patient is usually well aware that their response is totally irrational but feels unable to do much to change the situation.

The accompanying features of a panic attack associated with phobia include heart palpitations, nausea and fainting. Eventually the phobic patient may be more frightened of the panic symptoms, such as fainting and uncontrollable shaking, than of the phobic situation itself. They feel a total loss of control. If this sounds like you, why not telephone the practice before booking your appointment and explain. Don't be embarrassed; a good dentist will have come across this many times before and will be well used to the problem

What can be done to help you?

First discuss your concerns with your dentist. At Blockhouse Bay Dental Centre, Peter, Anna and Haydn are keen to understand the particular causes of your fear. Together we can work to gradually gain your confidence and overcome the phobia. Some of our best patients were originally dental phobics and now they actually enjoy coming to see us! Hard to believe but true!

When booking the appointment tell the receptionist that you are frightened and that you do not want any treatment at the first visit - just a chat! There are many methods available to help you during treatment. These may include simple remedies for example, the support of some of your close family or friends.

Inhalation Sedation

This procedure uses combinations of nitrous oxide and oxygen gases which are inhaled by the patient through a rubber face mask. It is available in each of the surgeries at Blockhouse Bay Dental Centre.

Is This Safe?

Nitrous oxide is a perfectly safe and simple drug to use. The effectiveness of the sedative depends upon the concentration of nitrous oxide that is inhaled. The patient easily controls the effect of the sedative by simply breathing more or less room air through the mouth.

How Long Do the Effects Last?

The effects of the gas wear off quite quickly after the mask is removed. It is possible to drive shortly after the visit.

Is it For Me?

The gas does produce a feeling of euphoria and well-being combined with a feeling of good self-control whilst the treatment is being performed. Usually after a few treatment sessions with the nitrous oxide the concentration of the gas can be reduced until eventually the patient is quite happy to have dental treatment without sedation at all. Then dental phobia becomes a thing of the past.

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