Services

DENTAL PHOBIA

A dental phobia can have wide-ranging consequences on a person's life. Not only does their dental health suffer, but dental phobia may lead to anxiety and depression. Laughing out loud is out of the question - it's too hard to hide one's teeth. Depending on how obvious the damage is, the individual may avoid meeting people due to embarrasment over their teeth, or not be able to take on jobs which involve extensive contact with the public. It has been suggested that dental fear and phobia are more widespread amoung successful people who are in positions of power. Those who have a desire to control their environment may find it particularly hard to relinquish control to a dentist. This personality trait may predispose individuals to develop dental phobia, but the actual cause of the phobia may be bad dental experiences.


RELAXATION DENTISTRY

There are two primary ways that sedation is administered in the dental office:
IV Sedation or Deep Concious Sedation - is done by a provider specialy trained in the administration of certain drugs to place the patient into a minimally depressed level of consciousness. This type of sedation creates a more profound amnesia effect for the patient.
Columbia Dental can schedule an ANESTHESIOLOGIST to perform IV sedation for those qualified patients who require extensive dental work and would like the comfort of sleep dentistry (IV sedation). While sleeping, the dentist may be able to complete all the required dental treatment in just one visit. The addition of this service has been well received by our apprehensive patients.
Nitrous oxide is a mild form of inhaled sedation. It relaxes the patient without the need for heavier sedation. Recovery from nitrous oxide sedation is rapid, and is safe for most but not all patients. It is recommended that you refrain from eating solid food for six hours and clear liquids for three hours prior to receiving nitrous oxide sedation.