When it comes to going to the dentist over 100 million people ask the same question "why isn't there such a thing as painless dentistry"? With all the advances in modern medicine you would think that there would be a way to have your teeth fixed without having to go through any pain getting there. Many dentists are now offering ways to reduce or eliminate the painful side of getting your teeth fixed.
For many the pain starts long before they even get near the office, it can start several days early as anxiety. This anxiety continues to build up until the person finds that they cannot sleep for fear of what they are facing in the dentist's chair. The art of painless dentistry in cases like these with the dentist offering the patient a prescription for a sedative that they should take the night before to ensure that they get a good night's sleep. Not only does this help them to get a good night's sleep but the carry over effect is that they tend to be calmer and more relaxed in the morning.
This is just the start of the program for someone who has a fear of going to the dentist and needs to have dental work done. Once they are in the office the dentist must be able to offer them a choice of the most painless dentistry procedures available to convince them to stay and have the work that they need done. There are several options available today to help ensure that the patient experiences as little pain and discomfort as possible.
At one point the most common way to provide painless dentistry unfortunately involved starting out with a little pain. Using Novocain that was injected into the gums to numb the work area provided pain relief, but the needle caused a certain amount of pain and discomfort to all. Today many dentists are offering their patients the option of being gently sent off to sleep under the effects of nitrous oxide. The gas used today is often scented with a pleasant smell such as bubble gum or mint to make it more palatable.
While under the anesthesia the patient will experience the most painless dentistry possible and the dentist can then inject the necessary Novocain in the gums and complete the job. In some cases this allows the dentist to complete more work in less time and the patient does not need to make as many return trips to their dentist, which can definitely reduce the amount of stress that they have to deal with before each visit.
If being knocked out with nitrous oxide is not what the patient wants then the dentist may offer IV sedation instead. This form of sedation does not render the patient unconscious but instead places the patient into a deep state of relaxation that allows them to enjoy painless dentistry without the after effects that can result from use of nitrous oxide. The nice thing about this type of sedation is that most patients will not remember what went on during the visit, only that the whole procedure was completed and they didn't feel a thing.
If you searching for a dentist who specializes in painless dentistry turn to Dental Relaxation, they have a list of certified dentists who cater to the needs of the patient searching for a painless solution to their dental care needs.
