In a few weeks, ghouls and goblins will flock around the neighbor looking for tasty treatments. Halloween is a season in which we embrace and even test our fears. Our Royal Oak MI dental office is encouraging patients to face dental fears this month.

The old days of dentistry are long gone. No longer are we asking patients to grit and bear it in the dental chair. We want you to be relaxed and comfortable in the dental chair. At North Oaks Dental, we’re helping relieving dental anxiety with state-of-the-art tools and highly trained staff.

Today we want to show you some of the facts behind dental anxiety and many of the solutions we can provide. Some people are afraid of the dentist because of past experiences, while others have a fear of needles or simply can’t get comfortable in the chair.

If you’re frightful of your dental appointments, understand that our office can help you overcome these issues. Give us a call today at 248-712-1522. Our dental office is equipped with comfortable amenities such as blankets and private operatives to give a better dental experience. We’ll also take our time to explain any treatments.

Facts behind dental fear and dental treatments:

  • One of the main ways to treat dental anxiety is with dental sedation.
  • There are three different types of dental sedation (nitrous oxide, oral conscious sedation, and IV sedation).
  • Nitrous oxide is the most common form of sedation. Patients love it because it’s available at the dental chair and wears off quickly after your treatment.
  • IV sedation is the heaviest form of sedation, and it’s often used to help patients who are extremely fearful or those who need extensive dental work.
  • Only about 40 percent of dentists across the country offer sedation dentistry, so if you need it, you can’t count on every dental office to have it.
  • About 20 percent of American have some level of dental anxiety, and about 5 percent of that population avoid the dentist at all costs. That’s a major problem considering everyone needs a dentist eventually.

The Risks of Letting Dental fear Rule

If you let dental fear take over, you might cause yourself a whole host of problems down the road. We schedule cleanings and exams six months apart so we can monitor the health of the teeth and gums. If there is an infection present in the mouth, it’s best to find the issues when it’s small. A tiny bit of decay can go on to infect the entire tooth and gum disease can advance to the point that it can cause teeth to fail. As you guessed, these problems can be extremely painful. In fact, gum disease is also the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. Gum disease starts small, typically with bleeding or swollen gums, but advanced gum disease can cause the teeth and gums to erode.

Schedule Your Appointment Today

We’d love to sit down with you and discuss your smile goals. Give us a call today at 248-712-1522 to schedule your visit. Our staff will make you feel comfortable and at home during your first visit.