Dental Anxiety

Franklin, TN

At New Image Dentistry, we specialize in treating patients that are suffering from Dental Anxiety. The team at New Image Dentistry is well-versed in handling patients with dental fear and anxiety and will make every effort to ensure that you are comfortable. If you have been avoiding the dentist for fear of the procedure itself or a previous traumatic dental experience, we can help. Dental fear or anxiety is very common and can be easily managed by sedation medication. When you visit our office, we will meet with you to discuss the best treatment for your dental goals and needs. Since every patient is unique, we will create a treatment plan specifically designed for you to promote the best long term dental health. Please let us know if you suffer from dental anxiety and we will make every effort to ease your fears and keep you comfortable and relaxed.

How can I prepare for my dentist appointment?

The easiest way to calm your fears and ease dental anxiety is to visit our dental office and meet us without having actual dental work performed. Taking the time to tour our office and have an initial conversation with the doctor will allow you to become familiar with our staff and office environment. This way when you do have your teeth cleaned or dental work performed, you are doing so in an atmosphere where you already feel comfortable and your procedure is being completed by friendly and familiar faces. During your consultation, we will discuss what you can expect from a teeth cleaning or a specific procedure. At New Image Dentistry, we have found that the more informed our patients are the more comfortable and relaxed they feel. For most patients, we have found that this one appointment can help to alleviate any dental anxiety that you typically experience.

Franklin Dental Anxiety

Sedation Dentistry Can Reduce Your Dental Anxiety

In our Franklin dental office, we practice sedation dentistry that can be used to reduce and prevent dental anxiety. Here are some of the questions we are regularly answer about sedation dentistry.

Will I be asleep when sedated?

Typically, “no”. General Anesthesia or sleep dentistry is usually reserved for oral surgery and lengthy procedures. Sedation dentistry will help you relax and can make you drowsy, so some patients do nod off, but you are technically not put to sleep. Many patients report that they do not remember the procedure when using sedation dentistry.

Can everyone use sedation dentistry?

To determine if you are healthy enough for sedation (most people are), we recommend that you schedule an appointment with our Tennessee dental office. We will meet with you to discuss the type of sedation that will be best for your procedure and the level of dental anxiety that you are experiencing.

How is sedation dentistry administered?

The most common form of sedation is taking medication prior to the procedure. Dr. Blourchian will prescribe oral medication to take the night before and the day of the procedure. You will need to arrange for a caregiver to bring you to and from the office and care for you after the procedure until the effects of sedation have subsided. One pill can help you to feel entirely relaxed so that your dental anxiety is eliminated.

Will I be able to move around like normal?

Yes, with sedation dentistry you can continue to engage in conversation and respond to commands; but your response times may be slightly delayed and your mind not as clear as normal.

Are there any side effects of sedation dentistry?

In our dental office, we use the least amount of sedation to help you to feel completely relaxed and comfortable so that it is effective without staying in your system for too long. It is still extremely important that you arrange for a caregiver to bring you to and from the appointment and stay with you for the first few hours after sedation dentistry. Dr. Blourchian will give your caregiver specific instructions after your procedure as to the length of time you need to be monitored, typically it’s best to have a responsible, trusted adult with you for the remainder of the day. Do not make any important decisions within 24 hours of sedation dentistry.

Can children benefit from sedation dentistry?

Yes, typically children need sedation when having a lot of dental work completed so that they can remain still long enough for the work to be performed. This is a unique specialty and not offered at every dentist office.

Are there other ways to make dental work more comfortable?

Yes, laser dentistry is transforming how dental procedures are being completed. When you visit our dental office, you can be confident that we will use the latest technology available to make your procedure more comfortable. Lasers allow us to do so because the laser energy is fine and can target small spaces without irritating the surrounding tissue. This reduces discomfort and the recovery time. Lasers are also less invasive than traditional dental tools which means that there is less bleeding and swelling than there would be otherwise. They can be used in treating tooth decay, gum disease, and in restorative procedures. If you want a more comfortable experience and to reduce your dental anxiety, we highly recommend visiting a laser dentistry office. To learn about the procedures that we perform using lasers, call (615) 591-4490 and schedule an appointment with Dr. Blourchian. At New Image Dentistry, we have found that when lasers are used, many of our patients no longer need sedation or pain medication because the common factors that create dental anxiety are eliminated. For example, the noise, heat, and vibration that is traditionally associated with the dental drill is not present when using lasers.