When You Are Too Scared to Visit the Dentist

If you ask anyone to name one of their biggest issues are regarding the upkeep of their health, a large percentage of them will say, “I hate the dentist”. If you ask why that is, chances are the response will be one of two things: the needles or that numbness that seems to last long after the procedure is complete. Unfortunately, there are a lot of needles used in your typical dentist office, and in order to help relieve your anxiety, some type of sedation is administered during the visit. And for many, this makes something as simple as a dental check-up a dreaded fact of life. And we ought to do this TWICE a year?!?! Yikes!

The problem is, one can never be too sure what will happen when they see the dentist, and this causes a lot of fear as the dental appointment slowly creeps up on us. In fact, there is an official diagnosis for this fear. It is called Dental Anxiety, or DA. So, you see? You are not alone.

Thankfully, there have been a lot of advancements in the world of dental procedures. Now we utilize the digital age by working with technologies like lasers, digital radiology & impressions, and even social media. Yes, even social media can help ease your fears as a particular dental procedure looms near. The advancement that has come the furthest has been laser technology by far. In 2012, Convergent Dental introduced an isotopic CO₂ dental laser that can perform more than 95% of restorative treatment WITHOUT the use of needles. No need for needles, no need for anesthesia. Can you imagine?

It gets even better. Braces are no longer metal cages surrounding all of your teeth since the development of Invisalign. With 3-D technology, invisible aligners can be custom made for you, and as you follow your treatment plan, these subtle aligners will begin slowly straightening your teeth week by week. No popped wires, no head gear, no more awful selfies. It truly is a revolutionary development for all teenagers worldwide.

Now, what if you need a more difficult procedure, like a crown or veneers? A state-of-the-art procedure has been developed to not only make your procedure less painful, but also much more hassle-free than it’s ever been. Chairside Economical Restorations of Esthetic Ceramic (CEREC®) uses computers to design and manufacture ceramic restorations that are metal-free, tooth-colored and completely finished in one single dental visit. Yes, you heard it right. One visit. Are you starting to feel a little bit better now?

But what if you are one of those patients that will forever have a problem relaxing with a dentist? We know you’re nervous, but now we can offer you an oral sedative to settle those nerves enough for you to get through your visit, without IV sedatives or general anesthesia. At our Riverside dental location, we make it our business to provide you with the smile of your dreams, while making you feel comfortable at each visit by utilizing every type of dental technology available. So don’t be afraid. Give us a call to set up your next dental appointment. We aren’t your grandparents’ dentist anymore…

Dental anxiety is nothing to fear. Schedule an appointment and/or consultation today.

Proudly serving Castro Valley, San Leandro, Hayward, Oakland, Fremont, Russell City and all surrounding areas.