Dental Anxiety and Phobia

How We Deal with Dental Anxiety By Dr. Gagne

Dental anxiety is not uncommon, and there are plenty of people who are scared of the dentist. In fact, studies show that three out of four Americans experience some sort of fear related to dental work, and one in five of those individuals avoids going to the dentist because of it. Regular dentist visits are vital to one’s oral health and avoiding appointments due to not wanting to go into the office is never a good idea.

As sedation specialists, our dental office in Oxnard treats hundreds of patients yearly that are dealing with some form of anxiety on a daily basis. We can get you the care that you need, while making you feel as comfortable as possible, knowing that you are in the right hands. Let’s explore the subject of dental anxiety by breaking down the issue and exploring treatment options.

Fear of the Dentist: What is Dental Phobia?

Dental anxieties and phobias simply refer to a fear of the dentist or of undergoing dental work. While they manifest themselves in different ways and specific fears vary widely, dental anxiety is generally more moderate. This is often a sensation felt before going to the dentist. On the other hand, dental phobia is a more intense feeling, characterized by an irrational fear of dental work. In both cases, the fear can be largely diminished by simply knowing you will be sedated for the dental procedure as well as by having a doctor that you can trust to take the necessary steps for treating these fears.

Expert Tips for Overcoming Dental Anxiety

Having a dentist by your side to help you navigate your fears and ensure that you are comfortable while achieving proper dental care is essential. Dr. Gagne is a highly experienced Oxnard, California dentist who specializes in IV sedation, where he treats patients with all kinds of dental phobia, gagging response, and claustrophobia. From pre-treatment to during the dental procedure to post-treatment, there is a variety of coping mechanisms to help overcome anxiety and take care of your dental health.

IV Sedation Options for Dental Phobia

Dr. Gagne is licensed to administer IV Sedation unlike most dentists who must call in an anesthesiologist. When you are seen in our office, we will discuss various sedation options with you in depth and determine which one is most suited for your needs and procedure type.

A first option, oral sedation is administered through a pill and wears off after a few hours. The second option could be Nitrous Oxide, also commonly referred to as laughing gas, is administered through a special mask and leaves the patient feeling relaxed but conscious. Once the mask is removed, the nitrous oxide is no longer effective and the effect will wear off almost immediately.

Intravenous sedation, or IV sedation, delivers sedative drugs through the bloodstream. Its superior results and the high precision when delivering the desired level of sedation makes it perfect for the highly fearful patient. IV sedation is particularly effective, and is the type of sedation that our office is known for. However, when we plan out your treatment, we will decide with you which type of sedation is the right one for you, as we offer all kinds of sedation.

Your Trusted Oxnard, CA Dentist

We are the only Ventura County dental office specifically built for sedation dentistry. With over 30 years of sedation experience, Dr. Richard Gagne is a dentist that can determine the correct treatment plan for you. Having worked with patients suffering from gag responses, claustrophobia, and other extreme reactions to dental work, our office is experienced in virtually any situation concerning sedation and dental anxiety.

Call our dental office in Oxnard to explore your options when it comes to dealing with dental anxiety and get advice from the sedation specialists.