The Painless Dental Appointment
A visit to the dentist can be a scary time for many people. It’s not uncommon to feel some anxiety and fear before your appointment. However, there are steps you can take to make the experience more pleasant. The best solution is to look for a local sedation dentist Idaho, but before you do that, consider some other tips:
Eat healthy snacks before your appointment to avoid getting hungry during the procedure. Your mouth will be numb, and you won’t want to eat or drink anything for a few hours afterward anyway. But it’s still important that you stay hydrated by drinking lots of water beforehand.
Talk with your dentist about anxiety medications in advance if need help calming down before the visit. Some people recommend taking something like Klonopin an hour before the appointment so they can feel more relaxed throughout their time there. If this is not possible, talk with your dentist about scheduling an earlier appointment than normal in case you have trouble falling asleep later on because of all of the adrenaline running through your body from nerves leading up to the day itself.
Some dentists offer sedation dentistry because they know it can be difficult for some people to get through a procedure. This is not the same as general anesthesia, but rather a calming medication that allows you to remain awake and still able to communicate with your dentist throughout the process. You’ll also need someone who will drive you home afterward.
If you have any dental insurance, be sure to bring it along when you go in so you can file for reimbursement later on if needed. Many times this type of treatment is covered by health care providers or third parties like Blue Cross/Blue Shield or Tricare Prime. If possible, schedule an appointment at lunchtime if even just one tooth needs work done instead of after work hours. You’ll save money on gas and time because you won’t be sitting in traffic as much, but still have a less stressful experience since it will be over before the day is done.
Don’t forget to bring headphones or earbuds with some soothing music to listen to during your appointment if that makes things easier for you. Some dentists offer this type of service already like Caring Dental Group so check beforehand what they can do for you in terms of white noise, soft music or meditation tapes designed specifically for dental patients who are anxious about their visit.