How Dentists Are Addressing Your Dental Anxieties
Whether you opt for dental implants in Richmond, or indeed anywhere else in the country, one thing’s for certain – you’re going to have to undergo some sort of surgical procedure. For many people however this is enough to stop them even considering implants and discovering the real benefits that they bring. The reason? Dental anxiety.
Nowadays, dentist know that dental fear or dental anxiety is a huge problem and in order for them to get patients through the door, this clearly has to be addressed. So how do they do this?
Firstly many dentists have found that just by making a simple name change from ‘dental surgery’ to dental ‘practice’ or ‘clinic’ is enough to change some people’s perceptions of how a visit to the dentist should be. In addition, getting rid of the cold sterile image of white-tiled walls and the smell of antiseptic is another step in making a practice more ‘patient friendly’. Set foot inside any modern dental clinic and you’ll find comfy seating, soothing colours the walls, flowers on the table, magazines, and friendly staff.
Okay, so aesthetics are great, but what about dental procedures themselves? How are they geared towards anxious or nervous patients?
Many dental clinics now adopt conscious sedation techniques especially when it comes to surgical procedures such as undergoing a dental implant. In Richmond, here at Sheen Dental we’ve found these techniques to be very successful with our more nervous patients. A cross between a general and a local anaesthetic, the patient remains fully awake and conscious, but is kept in a relaxed and care-free state. This means the dentist can easily communicate with the patient, yet the patient feels no pain whatsoever. Sedation is usually administered through inhalation and comes in the form of nitrous oxide (laughing gas). This avoids the use of needles. Conscious sedation can also be used in other non-surgical procedures such as fillings and even hygienist visits if a patient is particularly fearful.
In the last ten years or so, dental practices have come a long way in recognising dental fear as a real problem and many like us, are addressing it head on. The first thing you need to do is to tell us of your fears and anxieties towards a treatment and we’ll do our very best to make sure that you have a positive experience.
If you want to find out more about how we can help you with your dental anxieties or really want to consider dental implants in Richmond as an option, then come and talk to Sheen Dental. Book a free, no-obligation appointment with Dr Harmit Kalsi and the team on 020 8876 5277 and trust us when we say ‘you’ll be glad that you did’. To find out more, visit our website at www.sheendentalimplants.co.uk.