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Increasing Comfort at the Dental Office
Let’s face it -- a trip to the dentist is not something most of us look forward to. Fortunately, dentists can use new techniques and materials that reduce or eliminate discomfort both during and after dental care. Dentists should also listen to their patients and look for ways to help alleviate anxiety that some patients experience regarding dental treatment.
Here is a checklist of things dentists can do to improve dental visits:
- In an effort to reduce discomfort during dental procedures, today’s dentist can use either air abrasion or a dental laser. These modern devices enable dentists to treat many cavities without a needle or a dental drill.
- Nitrous oxide gas, often referred to as laughing gas or sweet air, is an effective anesthetic drug that has many benefits for patients seeking dental treatment.
- A caring and concerned attitude by the dentist can often go a long way to allaying a patient's anxiety and can significantly reduce gagging. The dentist should then find out what procedures or situations have triggered gagging in the past and see if alternative ones can be used.
- New techniques have greatly reduced the time needed to perform a root canal, and have also greatly limited the potential for discomfort. In most cases, root canal therapy can be effectively completed in just one visit!
- Most patients prefer to get their treatment completed as soon as possible. Dental offices that consistently stay on or close to schedule help patients feel comfortable and well-cared for.
- The most effective way to help patients cope with discomfort sometimes associated with dental care is to let them know what to expect ahead of time. Misunderstandings regarding the scope, expectations and potential for discomfort during or after treatment can weaken the dentist-patient relationship.
- One all too common reason that people avoid going to the dentist is the fear that the dentist will scold them about the condition of their teeth. Most dentists realize that scolding their patients will ultimately backfire, because it tends to either drive people away or cause them to build up a barrier of resentment towards the dentist.
- Just as it is vital for the dentist to provide treatment in as painless a manner as possible, it is equally important for the hygienist. In fact, people in good dental health may actually have more treatment provided by their dentist’s hygienist than the dentist him or herself.
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