Fear The Dentist No Longer

Many adults have a fear of going to the dentist and as a result they do not receive regular dental care. One of the big reasons that people are afraid of going to the dentist's office is because they associate the dentist with pain. For example, people who had to visit an office regularly for orthodontia recall the painful process of getting them tightened. Also if a person has ever had a tooth drilled, the noise of the drill and the pain is unforgettable. The field of dentistry has come a long way, people no longer have to be afraid.

One thing dentists are using to help ease the anxiety of receiving dental care, is the set up of their offices. Gone are the days where dentists are using nondescript decorating themes. They are making their offices feel more warm and open to help put their patients at ease. Also many dentists are putting in televisions with cable so the patients have other things to focus on besides what is going on in their mouths.

Another technique that dentists are turning to is Oral Sedation Therapy. Oral Sedation Therapy is where oral sedation medication, such as Valium, is administered to relax their patients so that they are able to perform their long procedures in one sitting rather than multiple sittings. This is also particularly useful for those who do have high anxiety and phobias when it comes to this type of care. Dentists are required to go through special courses set by the American Dental Association.

Finally, there has been great strides in the field of micro dentistry. Micro dentistry is a new technique in dentistry that allows the removal of tooth decay without the aid of a drill. Also it does not require the use of a needle to numb the area. The first step is to use an air abrasion machine to eliminate the decay. The air abrasion blows aluminum oxides powder by the way of compressed air and using a fine tip. Once the decay is removed a special dye is used so that the smallest hole is not missed in the tooth. After that the tooth is treated with an etching solution. The etching solution basically roughens the surface so that the bonding agent adheres properly. After the holes are filled with the bonding agent, the tooth is sealed to protect the bonding. The only discomfort is a gritty feeling which goes away once the patient rinses.