What makes you the most nervous from the following list?
- Heights
- Flying
- Going to the dentist
- Injections
- Doctors
- Snakes
- Going to the hospital
- Spiders
The British Dental Health Foundation asked over 1,000 people this question during the lead up to National Smile Month 2011, and the answers were a little bit surprising.
A fear of heights topped the poll, closely followed by visiting the dentist and going to the hospital. Yes, that’s right: 1 in every 5 people rated going to the dentist as the thing that makes them the most nervous, earning it the second place spot. A fear of snakes ranked fourth, while spiders came fifth.
As you can see, a fear of the dentist is a very widespread source of anxiety. Unfortunately, that means that people aren’t getting the care they need simply because they’re afraid. Dr. Brad Greenfield, a family and cosmetic dentist in Lake Orion, Michigan, offers an effective solution: sedation dentistry.
Sedation dentistry is used to address mild, moderate, and significant dental phobia or physical discomfort. With 3 types of sedation to choose from (nitrous oxide, IV sedation, and oral sedation), Dr. Greenfield will sit down with you and have a candid discussion with you about your concerns. Depending on your needs and the procedures you are having done, Dr. Greenfield will work with you to choose a sedation method that ensures your comfort and relaxation throughout your dental treatment.
For more information about sedation dentistry, call Lake Orion Family Dentistry at (248) 693-6213.