Dental Spas: Taking the Anxiety Out of Dental Treatment

For thousands of people, their yearly visit to the dentist is a pleasant experience. Their dentist, dental hygienist and the other dental staff are friendly and helpful, and make sure patients are comfortable and pain free during their cleaning and/or other procedures. Most people leave the dentist office feeling good about having taken care of this important part of their health care. But for thousands of other people, a visit to the dentist office triggers anxiety so severe that they put off routine cleanings, sometimes for years. But this can lead to serious problems, including gingivitis and gum disease.

It is for this second group of people that exist the dental spa as kind of dental office. This dental office focus on a wide variety of relaxation methods, to take as much anxiety as possible out of dental treatments. While the type of relaxation methods that are offered vary from office to office, most offer sleep at least sedation dentistry and sleep dentistry. These two types of dentistry focus on using sedative agents to help patients relax and release their anxiety, so that their dental procedure can proceed. Levels of sedation that can be achieved are minimal, moderate and deep.

The right level of sedation depends on the patient, his or her level of anxiety, and the procedure. A minimal level of sedation might be adequate for a patient with moderate anxiety who is undergoing a routine cleaning. This level would allow the patient to be able to respond to verbal stimulation, while still relaxing his or her anxiety. For a patient with more severe anxiety undergoing an advanced treatment, a deep level of sedation might be more appropriate. Your sedation dentist can help you decide which level of sedation would be right for your level of anxiety and/or the treatment you need.

Sleep dentistry can be the ideal route for those who experience severe anxiety about dental procedures, both routing and advanced. So don't let previous experiences, and the anxiety they have caused, prevent you from taking care of your oral health. Find a dental spa and make an appointment for a consultation. Ask questions, and find out how top dentists make dental care more like a visit to a spa than a visit to a dentist office.