It’s sad that nearly half of American adults have some form of gum disease. I often suspect this statistic relates to the estimated 75% who have dental fears. This causes many to avoid going to the dentist. Even those with a thorough oral hygiene regimen at home need regular cleanings and check-ups. Without them, oral bacteria can lead to gum disease.
If you have symptoms of gum disease, restoring your mouth to a healthy state is an urgent need. Symptoms include tender gums that bleed when brushing, swollen gum ‘pockets’ around the base of teeth, gums that are deep red in color rather than a healthy pink, and persistent bad breath. Untreated, gum disease will result in eventual tooth loss.
Gum disease can also create a chain reaction of inflammation in your body, with frightening repercussions. The bacteria of gum disease has been linked to heart disease, stroke, arthritis, diabetes, preterm babies and even impotency. But, how can fearful adults receive the treatment they need?
Your first step is to realize there are hundreds of adults who had similar fears and have overcome them through an appropriate pace for each person. In our office, we also offer I.V. Sedation (for a ‘twilight sleep’ state) or Oral Sedation to help fearful patients relax during care. Many begin treatment with sedation and, after one or two visits, then feel they no longer need sedation as their level of trust builds.
While I.V. Sedation gives a deeper level of relaxation, Oral Sedation is in pill form with no needles used to administer the medication. With either sedation, the areas being treated are appropriately numbed once you are in a relaxed state. Patients are monitored with sophisticated equipment and a trained staff member throughout care. After treatment, most have no memory of the procedure.
We are experienced in caring for fearful patients and take pride in seeing them go from ‘white-knuckled’ at our first meeting to patients who are smiling and happy from the moment they arrive. Begin your path to a healthy smile by calling toll free 1-866-9-Smiles to speak with our friendly staff.
