Signs your patient has dental anxiety

Everyone has fears. Some people have a fear of speaking in front of crowds, while others have a fear of seeing a dentist. Being scared of visiting a dentist’s office is much more common than people think. 

The Adult Dental Health Survey 2009 found that an estimated 36 percent of the population suffers from dental anxiety. At the same time, 12 percent of the population suffers from extreme dental fear. 

Often this fear stops patients with dental anxiety from making an appointment. As a dentist, you want to ensure that your patient maintains healthy oral health. That is why it is so important to learn when a patient has dental anxiety. 

The dental sedation course Texas team shares these common signs of dental anxiety and how to help patients with it. 

What is dental anxiety?

Dental anxiety, sometimes referred to as dental phobia, is the fear of going to the dentist or receiving dental treatments. Research discovered that this fear could have developed due to a traumatic experience, fear of feeling pain, afraid of anesthetic side effects or fear of injections. 

Signs your patient has dental anxiety 

They jump with dental sounds. 

Have you had a dental patient who jumps with the sound of your dental equipment? They are not jumping because the sound caught them off guard but because they have dental anxiety. One of the most common sounds that trigger fear in patients is the drill. The sound of this dental equipment could trigger a traumatic experience. Some patients with dental anxiety have associated the sound of a drill with pain. 

They feel nauseous. 

Another common sign that indicates a patient has dental anxiety is feeling nauseous. This feeling can show up as soon as they walk into the door or when they sit in the dental chair. Some common signs of nausea include sweating and the build-up of saliva. If a patient expresses a feeling of feeling sick, give them a few minutes to calm down and ask if they would like dental sedation. 

They avoid dental treatments at all costs. 

Six-month dental checkups help dentists spot any dental issues before they cause too many problems. Dentists then recommend follow-up treatments like - cavity fills, crowns and tooth removals. However, many times patients avoid getting these dental treatments because of dental anxiety. Dental avoidance may lead to oral health worsening and affecting overall health. 

How to help patients with dental anxiety

If you have noticed that a patient displays any of these signs, direct them to dental sedation. This kind of dental treatment can help them ease their dental fears. There are various ways dental sedation can be administered, but one of the easiest ways is through minimal sedation. 

This kind of sedation is administered through an oral sedative that is called Anxiolytic. It helps the patient feel relaxed and get through any dental procedure. Minimal sedation is a great option for dental patients who have a fear of needles or feel nauseous. 

There are certain restrictions for which patients can use this dental sedation. It is important that dentists get their minimal sedation certification through an approved dental sedation course Texas administration. 

Are you looking for dental sedation course Texas locations? 

Midwest Sedation Consultants is the right choice! We offer level 1 sedation recertification courses that are approved by the Boards of Dentistry. Not to mention, our courses are available online! Enroll in our next Texas course today!