You know that you should call to make an appointment. It’s been longer than it should since you last professional dental cleaning. You may not know exactly how long it’s been, but it was definitely more than six months ago.
Maybe you just got busy with family and work stuff. Maybe you meant to make an appointment but you forgot.
Or maybe you have dental anxiety.
If you are fearful or nervous about visiting the dentist, you should know that it’s OK. There’s nothing wrong with you. Millions of people have similar feelings, including patients who have become regular visitors to our San Diego, CA dental office.
There’s also a reason those patients keep coming back to see us. As they’ve gotten to know Brian Davey, DDS, and other members of our team, they have felt more comfortable with routine dental care. They’ve seen that we will go out of our way to help them relax and remain pain-free.
If you would like to learn more about how we treat our patients, please call 858-762-9991. We will be happy to answer your questions.
Get Comfortable
No two patients are exactly alike, and people can feel anxious for a number of reasons. Some people worry about pain. Some people recall a bad experience from their childhood. Some people saw a scary movie that left them with a bad impression of dentists.
Whatever your reason, we have a variety of comfort options that may help you. The American Dental Association has some suggestions that can help you manage your anxious feelings.
One of the best things you can do is tell us about your anxiety. If you can share the reasons for your anxiety as well, we can adjust our approach to treating you in ways that will help you feel more relaxed.
Your physical comfort matters, too. You can borrow a blanket, a pillow, or both to feel warm and cozy during your dental care with us.
Many patients watch one of their favorite television shows on our in-room screens or listen to music on headphones. This can provide a welcome distraction from your cleaning or other care.
When you are finished, we’ll offer you a warm towel, and if you received local anesthetic, you can enjoy some ice cream as well. (Just don’t eat too much.)
Ease Back into the Office
At first, you may feel like you need more than a blanket and some tunes to sit in a dental chair again. That’s OK. It’s also why we offer sedation dentistry.
Dr. Davey is an active member of the Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation (DOCS), and he is licensed to administer dental sedation. Oral sedation is a pill you can take prior to your treatment. When the pill takes effect, you won’t feel any pain. You won’t gag, and you will stay calm throughout your visit. For more complex procedures, we can arrange for general anesthesia.
With either of our sedation option, however, you must make arrangements for someone else to bring you to and from your appointment.
Take It One Step at a Time
If you have avoided the dentist for years, try to be patient with yourself. Dental anxiety is not going to disappear with one checkup.
At the same time, know that it can get a little easier each time you come to see us. We have patients who seemed terrified the first time they visited us, but now, they get cleanings without any problems. You can get there, too, in time.
Dr. Davey and our team will be here to support you every step of the way. Contact us online or call 858-762-9991 if you would like to learn more about our comfort and sedation options.
