I don’t so much avoid going to the dentist as I proactively fill my schedule to the brim so there is simply no time for a monthly, bi-monthly, or tri-monthly checkup. Don’t get me wrong, I know it’s incredibly important to be aware of your overall dental health. I brush every morning and night, use a mouthwash that supposedly makes my teeth whiter AND kills 99.9% of all bacteria, while remembering to floss about twice a week. Yes, this is impressive, I know. However, regardless of my efforts in making my teeth whiter the color seems to slowly approach that of a faded Post-It note.

Naturally this unwanted development lead me to the internet in search of answers, and while browsing I came across an interesting fact. 50% of Americans suffer from a type of fear or anxiety which prevents them from visiting the dentist. In my head I imagine the stereotypical dank, damp, and dreary basement dental office with a loud drill and expired magazines littered everywhere, but in reality it is more of a fear of the unknown which seems to cause the most issues. When bringing this point up to a friend, who also happens to be a Boston cosmetic dentist, he explained to me the recently implemented procedure known as oral sedation dentistry.

Again this lead me to the internet, scouring all relevant pages to obtain information on easing the anxiety which is so easily associated to visiting the dentist’s office. The following bullet points illustrate what my research has taught me about oral sedation dentistry.

Oral Sedation Dentistry Bullet Points!!

• A dentist needs to be DOCS (Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation) certified, meaning has received very specialized training, in order to safely provide comfort through use of oral sedatives to their patients.
• All oral sedation agents used can be found in your local hospital, used as anasthesia, etc.
• Some oral agents have amnesic effects, allowing no memory of the dental procedure. Others are specifically designed to have patients feel extremely relaxed and rested, with a sense of being “refreshed” once the procedure is completed.
• Oral sedation dentistry has helped thousands of patients overcome their fear of dental work being done, giving them the opportunity to benefit from increased dental health.

Overall it seems as though oral sedation dentistry eliminates potential patients from being disinclined to perform needed dental procedures. My friend, the dentist in Boston, told me a few stories of patients who were virtually incapable of following up or finishing a dental procedure, overcoming their fear almost immediately. As we all know dental health can be directly linked to your overall health, so an increase in that is something definitely worth investigating.

Dental Partners of Boston

(617) 259-1100