You have your teeth cleaned at the dentist every six months, and each time, you experience the same thing: You’re relaxed in the dental chair, ready to start the treatment, when all of a sudden you feel dizzy and lightheaded, your vision blurs, and then everything goes black. You wake up an hour later in the recovery room with your face numb from the Novocain injection, feeling embarrassed and frustrated by your own fainting episode. The good news is that there are things you can do to prevent this from happening again; let’s take a dental office open on saturday.
Dental Anxiety is Real
And for a lot of people, it’s really severe. Dental anxiety has been linked to high blood pressure and stress, so don’t let anyone tell you that it’s not a big deal. You may want to start by visiting your dentist twice a year, or visit a porcelain veneers near me if you have to, but try to put off any procedures that involve needles as long as possible—both because it will be painful, and because they might even send you into anaphylactic shock. If you know what to expect, though, these things aren’t necessarily scary. For example, dentists usually numb gums before doing anything involving needles; in fact, there are some dental offices open on Saturday where patients are awake during all procedures so that they never feel pain (yes, it’s weird). The more you know about what happens in a dental office before going in for treatment, the less anxious you’ll be when it comes time to get work done. Plus: If there’s something seriously wrong with your teeth/gums/mouth, waiting until next week isn’t going to make anything better! So don’t wait too long!
Consider Home Care Dentistry
One way to avoid these issues is to have your dental office open on Saturday and Sunday. This makes it easy for people who faint to schedule appointments during times that won’t be disruptive to their work schedules. This is especially helpful for those who work traditional nine-to-five jobs, but also helps keep time flexibility in mind as well. Patients who have children or pets will feel more comfortable keeping them in daycare on a weekend than taking them with them to an early weekday appointment, after all. And having no care options over a weekend can be just as bad as having no care option at all!
What If Your Dentist Doesn’t Accept Dental Insurance?
Of course, there are plenty of great dentists who do accept dental insurance. But in many cases, people still wind up with a bill that’s more than they can afford to pay. Why is that? For starters, most dental insurances plans don’t cover 100% of all services and procedures; they typically only cover 80-90%. Dentists who take dental insurance will pass on a sizable portion of your cost (about 20%) to you. Of course, there are some plans out there that offer lower deductibles and copays – but those come with monthly premiums you have to pay out of pocket. With those types of plans (typically for families), it becomes difficult for individuals or single adults to afford comprehensive dental care.
Start with General Anesthesia, Try Nitrous Oxide Instead
General anesthesia is one of several types of medicines used to help people relax so that they don’t feel pain. If you have a history of dental anxiety, it may be worth discussing your option for sedation with your dentist. Many dentists offer nitrous oxide (or laughing gas) as an alternative to general anesthesia because it helps reduce patients’ fear of receiving treatment while reducing their risk of feeling pain during treatment. Talk to your dentist about what would work best for you next time you visit his or her office!
Talk to Other Patients Beforehand
One of the first things you can do to make your visit less nerve-wracking is to go in knowing what to expect. Do a little research and read blogs written by people who have had similar experiences. Not only will it help you feel better prepared, but it might also give you some tips on how to deal with certain situations or symptoms that others experienced as well. If it seems like there are a lot of people who faint or have anxiety during dental procedures, you might even ask your doctor if they’d be willing to schedule an earlier appointment for when there aren’t as many patients around. The more prepared you are, the less likely you’ll pass out from anxiety!
What if your Dentist Doesn’t Offer Nitrous Oxide?
There are two basic types of sedation dentistry that might help you out: dental IV sedation and nitrous oxide gas, or laughing gas. These two options are great for people who don’t like needles, so if you don’t like needles or otherwise dislike sedation dentistry in general, they might be your best option. Plus, there are fewer risks associated with both of these types of sedation compared to other types.
What About Sedation Dentistry / IV Sedation in a Dentist Office?
As any patient who’s ever been to a dentist appointment knows, dental visits don’t always go smoothly. You might be comfortable with your dentist, but sitting in that dental chair is stressful under normal circumstances. If you feel anxious or stressed before your appointment, it’s only natural that you’ll feel worse when you’re actually having your teeth cleaned. While sedation dentistry isn’t right for everyone, especially if you aren’t particularly nervous about visiting the dentist, it can help put patients at ease by eliminating fear and discomfort. Commonly used sedation techniques include: oral conscious sedation (typically via pill), IV conscious sedation (injections), nitrous oxide gas (laughing gas), anti-anxiety medication such as Xanax or Valium.