Painful/Scary Dental Procedures Explained

For many, the idea of heading to the dentist’s chair and having a procedure carried out is enough to strike fear into the heart. It’s understandable, but a lot of the fear people experience is down to the fact that they don’t understand the procedures or what they really involve. That lack of understanding leads to fear and false assumptions. To help clear some things up for you, here are some of the scariest dental procedures explained.

Tooth Extractions

Having a tooth pulled out definitely sounds scary, but it might not be as bad as you think. The pain will be numbed by the anaesthetic so you’re not going to feel a thing. The pain is what most people fear from this but there’s nothing to fear at all. In fact, it’ll prevent the pain you’re already experiencing because teeth don’t get pulled without good reason.

Root Canal Procedures

It’s possible that you’re frightened of root canal procedures because you’ve been through the process in the past and hated it. Or you might have heard horror stories from other people. However, the procedure has developed a lot in recent years and it’s not as painful or as scary as it used to be. In fact, it’s a very simple, routine procedure now.

Fillings

Fillings require the use of needles and it’s this that most people find scary about the process. But this is used to reduce the pain you experience and the cavity itself can then be treated very easily. There’s really nothing to be fearful of here.

Dental X-Rays

The idea of having part of your face and head x-rayed can be pretty frightening. Some people fear exposure to radiation and people can find it daunting if they think the process is going to make them gag. However, your gag reflex can be controlled with anesthesia if you’re worried about that and the radiation exposure is actually very small indeed so that’s nothing to be worried about.

Dental Implants

There are many different options open to you if you want to get dental implants. Some people opt for local anaesthetic and stay awake through the procedure. Other people choose to take a general anaesthetic route and sleep through it. The great thing about this is that you have control over the options and you can choose the way forward that’s least scary for you.

How to Get Past Your Fear and Anxiety

The most important part of relieving anxiety and fear when it comes to dentistry work is communication. If there’s something you’re worried about, talk to a dentist. You’ll learn more and you’ll understand more, and that will ultimately help to put your mind at ease which is what’s most important. When you’ve done that, you’ll feel less overwhelmed and a little more level-headed regarding the whole situation.

If you’ve been experiencing dental problems and you’ve been putting off a visit to the dentist, now is the time to change that. Those procedures you fear so much could offer a fix to all your problems. We’re more than happy to discuss things with you and explain things in more depth, so don’t hesitate to book an appointment with us.