A large portion of the UK population feel nervous when going to the dentist, with some people suffering so severely from a fear of the dentist that they avoid any contact, even when tooth loss, bleeding gums and severe pain occur and they desperately need treatment.

What are the causes of dental phobia?

Dental phobia can occur for a number for reasons, each one varying from person to person. Negative past experiences at the dentist, whether due to pain or the uncaring attitude of the practitioner can all cause psychologically harm, which can lead to dental phobia.

What can be done to help dental phobic patients?

Today, the attitude and treatments provided by your dentist have changed and many dentists undergo specific training to help them find the best ways to treat their nervous patients. Taking appointments slowly and listening to the requests of the patient is one of the simplest ways of alleviating any feelings of distress, and using pain free injections such as the WAND device is another helpful method of enabling nervous patients to have a pain free experience when at the dentist.

However, one treatment above all else has brought a sense of calm to the dental chair-namely Sedation.

What is Sedation and how does it work?

Sedation is used to ease a patient into a contented, relaxed state, where they feel no pain, no anxiety and no fear. Administered via a vein, the sedation solution eases a patient into a feeling of calm without making then unconscious. You will still be able to breathe by yourself and you will be able to response to simply requests from your dentist, but you will neither feel nor fear the procedure that is going on.

If you are nervous of the dentist and would like to know about dental sedation please get in touch with the practice. We offer sedation to patients throughout Liverpool and the UK and would be happy to help you receive the treatment you need.