Going to the dentist can set some people’s nerves on edge for a variety of reasons. This should never stop you from seeing a dentist such as Dr. Alexander Pritsky. The Tracy Dental Center, serving the Tracy, CA, area, uses sedation dentistry to help work with patients who face dental anxiety or “White Coat Fever.” 

How Dental Anxiety Affects Dental Care

More than most doctors, it is almost trendy to be scared of a routine visit to the dentist. Many movies, TV shows, and cartoons have had plot points revolving around this. The anxiety that this can install in people only serves to promote putting off going to the dentist for anything shy of an emergency. 

Once the visit is scheduled and made, dental anxiety can create symptoms that wouldn’t otherwise exist. The act of showing up can lead to increased heart rate, heavy breathing, and because of the nervous system is on alert, an increase in pain sensitivity. Certain types of medications - particularly pain medications - can only be administered if the patient is below a certain heart rate or blood pressure. 

Essentially, anxiety for pain that was not going to be felt due to a medication can cause a patient to not be able to use that more effective numbing agent. 

How Sedation Dentistry Can Help You

The Tracy Dental Center, of Tracy, CA, has the solution: Sedation Dentistry! As the word “sedation” suggests, the patient is given anti-anxiety medication that causes the body to enter a more relaxed state. This negates the body’s anxiety reactions that were problematic (increased heart rate, blood pressure, and pain sensitivity), as well as induces a state of comfort. 

Our office offers multiple sedation dentistry techniques. There are oral medications that can be administered for pain and anxiety relief. There are inhalants (nitrous oxide) that can be used for just anxiety, which comes with the benefit of no “hangover” upon wearing off. We also have an IV option, which shows results immediately. 

A seldom-discussed issue that can affect people even without dental anxiety is the gag reflex. Even people who are comfortable with the dentist still have a throat that will want to reject fingers and tools going near it. Simple sedation dentistry can numb that reflex and make a procedure much more pleasant.

How Tracy Dental Center Can Help You

The Tracy Dental Center, serving the Tracy, CA, and surrounding areas, is here to help you with any dental anxiety that you may face. Call our office at (209) 833-9322, today, to schedule an appointment or consultation with Dr. Pritsky so that we can address any concerns about sedation dentistry or your oral health.