Overcoming Dental Anxiety MANY OF US, even though we know that going to the dentist is a safe, normal, and important part of life, don’t find it particularly fun to lie flat on our backs while someone pokes around our teeth and gums. For some, though, the very thought of visiting the dentist fills them with anxiety, and it could even be a full-blown phobia. That’s why we’d like to put our focus on helping our patients overcome their dental anxieties and fears. Dental Anxiety Stats Fear of going to the dentist is fairly common, with an estimated nine to 15 percent of Americans completely avoiding visiting the dentist because of anxiety and fear. That means up to 40 million Americans are taking a serious gamble with their dental health. Putting off a basic twice-a-year cleaning out of fear leaves patients much more susceptible to tooth decay and painful infection. It’s always better to view dental care as preventative, not just reactive. Your Friendly Neighborhood Dentist If you’re worried about going to the dentist, that might be because history and pop culture have given you the wrong idea. Before WWII made anesthetics the norm, dental procedures were uncomfortable, to say the least, but the field has come a long way since then. Modern dental offices maintain a high standard of comfort and care for patients. Advice For Overcoming Dental Anxiety It's very important to us that our patients have a relaxing and stress free appointment. If you are nervous or anxious before coming to see us, please let us know, we have a variety of accommodations to help all of our patients. Our in office accommodations include, friendly faces who care about your well being, massage chairs, ear phones, blankets, and towels for behind your neck or back. We also offer Nitrous Oxide (N2O) or "Laughing Gas". Both of our Hygienists and Assistants are certified to monitor patients on N2O if the doctor needs to step out of the room.  If you need something a little more to help with nervous, our doctors are more than happy to prescribe Valium if needed. Please remember not to drive yourself when taking this medication, make sure you have someone to bring you and take you home from your appointment. Please watch the video below for more information.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2HYXFDEmIk  We Will Work With You! Your care and comfort are our top priorities. If you or someone in your family struggles with dental anxiety and it’s interfering with getting needed dental care, we’d love to schedule a time for you to come to our practice so that you can get used to the facility and get to know our team. We can answer any questions you may have. We hope to see you soon!                                                                          Dr. Andrew Bruening & Dr. Carissa Bruening are  General & Family Dentists located in Chesterfield, Missouri. 636-532-3311 | admin@chdental.net Check Out Our Website!                               Top image by Flickr user Lachlan Hardy used under Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 4.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original. The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.