Our regular patients will know that West Bowmanville Family Dental is a very friendly and welcoming practice. Still, despite our best efforts, we know not everyone finds it easy or comfortable to visit. This can be due to several factors. Some people have deep-seated dental fears and phobias in Clarington that can date back to childhood. Others fear the sights, sounds and smells in a dental office or have a fear of needles. Some people have a very strong gag reflex, so receiving dental care can feel uncomfortable.
People who haven’t felt able to visit a dentist in a while may feel embarrassed, but there is definitely no need. Our dental team never judges and is extremely kind and caring towards anyone who finds visiting a dentist difficult. We always go out of our way to welcome patients, especially those who feel anxious or nervous or unsure.
If this sounds familiar, follow our easy tips to help you stay calm and relaxed during your visits.
- Let us know how you feel when you book your appointment so we can work with you to discover how best to help you. Our dentist and dental team can put aside some time to discuss your feelings in depth, devising a custom treatment plan that allows you to receive dental care more comfortably.
- Hand signals are just one way we can help you feel more confident so that you know just raising a hand will immediately stop the procedure, even if it’s just a straightforward checkup. We will not continue until you feel more comfortable.
- Practice deep breathing exercises as people often hold their breath when they feel nervous or anxious, and the drop in oxygen levels can increase feelings of anxiety. Instead, practice taking slow, regular breaths to help control your stress.
- Bring headphones and listen to your favourite music, or we have large screen TVs in our treatment rooms so you can sit back, relax and watch your favourite program.
- Avoid caffeinated foods before your appointment and anything too sugary that could make you feel more jittery. Instead, think about eating something high-protein, which will help you calm down.
- When booking your appointment, choose a time when you feel less stressed or busy. We offer a wide range of convenient dental appointments in Newcastle, so there is sure to be a suitable time available.
What If I Have More Deep-Seated Fears and Phobias?
While the above tips may be great for someone anxious or a little nervous, we realize they won’t be enough for everybody, so we offer dental sedation in Courtice. We have a range of solutions available, from mild sedation to intravenous sedation, where you feel so relaxed you could fall asleep.
Our sedation dentistry options include:
- Nitrous oxide is better known as laughing gas and produces a sensation of relaxation and mild euphoria. It is the only form of sedation where you can drive yourself home.
- Oral conscious sedation is given in pill form, so we prescribe an oral sedative for you to take before your appointment. By the time you sit in the dental chair, you will be feeling much more relaxed, and we may also recommend using Nitrous oxide to enhance the effects of oral compass sedation.
- Intravenous sedation is sometimes called sleep dentistry or twilight dentistry because you feel so deeply relaxed you will probably fall asleep. The sedative is given intravenously, and afterwards, you will most likely remember nothing of what happened because it contains an amnesiac. It’s the ideal solution if you need extensive dental care or feel deeply anxious.
