How Laser Dentistry Could Help Reduce Dental Anxiety
When you consistently feel nervous about going to the dentist, you might have dental anxiety. This refers to strong feelings of nervousness about dental visits, whether with routine visits or during more serious procedures. Since dental anxiety can cause you to delay necessary care, it’s important to find ways to reduce or manage it. Laser dentistry offers an effective way to ease your fear about going to the dentist.
What is Laser Dentistry
Laser dentistry involves the use of energy from light beams to perform dental work rather than relying on traditional tools. This offers an alternative to more invasive tools that are normally used for removing tooth decay, treating gum disease, and doing other kinds of dental procedures. Many people’s anxiety stems from hearing drills or even feeling certain tools against their teeth. Laser dentistry can be used for a wide range of dental work, including whitening teeth, removing bacteria in the gums, and eliminating unhealthy or decayed tissue. It’s considered safe for dental work, as long as dentists and dental hygienists who use it receive proper training.
Advantages of Laser Dentistry
Laser dentistry provides important advantages for both patients and dentists. Patients can expect less discomfort overall, as lasers do not cut through tissue like traditional dental tools do. This helps reduce bleeding and swelling during procedures and can lead to less soreness afterwards. Keep in mind that dentists typically still use anesthesia while doing certain procedures with laser dentistry.
For dentists, using lasers means that they can perform dental work with greater precision. This helps improve the quality of dental work and reduces the risk of complications. Dentists can use laser dentistry on patients of all ages.
Dental Anxiety and Laser Dentistry
How can laser dentistry help lower dental anxiety? Patients who have this type of anxiety often fear dental work like exams and cleanings as well as the tools used. Laser dentistry may help reduce specific fears you have in relation to a dental visit. Lasers are not as invasive as traditional dental tools used for cutting into gums or removing decay. This can reduce discomfort. It certainly reduces the feeling of the dental tools in your mouth. In the end, this technique may help these procedures seem less intimidating or frightening.
Finding an easier, less scary way to have dental work completed keeps your mouth healthier and allows you to visit the dentist less often. Dental anxiety presents a challenge to overall dental health because patients tend to avoid visits. By the time they come in, their simple issue now requires more care. Knowing laser dentistry functions differently than traditional methods may help you seek dental care earlier. Lasers can be used for many types of dental work. You might have this option for tooth decay and gum problems. Laser dentistry is not available for all procedures, but you have options.
Dental Sedation
Dental sedation can be used to reduce dental anxiety for any kind of dental procedure. If laser dentistry is an option, you can combine it with sedation options to provide even more relief. You might consider this if you suffer from severe anxiety and need treatment done on your gums or on tooth decay. When you laser dentistry is not an option, dental sedation can still help reduce your anxiety. It’s available in a few different forms, such as oral sedation or IV sedation with anti-anxiety medication. Nitrous oxide is the most common and safest form of dental sedation. If you put off necessary dental work or routine cleanings, it’s time to explore your options for laser dentistry and dental sedation. You’ll keep your teeth as healthy as possible while reducing the chance of needing more extensive work done later.
Conclusion
If you need additional information on dental anxiety or laser dentistry, please contact Dental Brothers today. We offer laser dentistry in Phoenix and Mesa, as well as dental sedation to make your experience as comfortable as possible. Our dentists and dental hygienists have received certification from the Academy of Laser Dentistry and specialized instruction from our laser system manufacturers. We can help with all your dental needs.