Mild Dental Fear and Mild Dental Anxiety

Patients with mild dental anxiety may exhibit a degree of dental fear that is controllable by the patient. Their dental fear and anxiety does not prevent the patient from going to the dentist. The patient may exhibit a mild degree of nervousness and irritability.

Signs and Symptoms of mild dental fear and anxiety

– The degree of fear is controllable by the patient
– Mild degree of nervousness and/or irritability
– The degree of dental fear does not prevent the patient from seeking dental care
– Tendency for missing and cancelling dental appointments

Treating dental patients with mild dental fear and anxiety

The sedation dentist treatment approach is determined after careful assessment, open communication and listening to our patients as to how we can make their dental appointment most comfortable. While the degree of fear may be controllable by the patient, some patients may elect to undergo Dental Sedation for their dental appointment. Their thinking is, if I have the opportunity to sleep and not remember the appointment, I’ll take it. In other situations the utilization of distraction techniques with movie glasses, headphones or even a mild sedative like nitrous oxide may be sufficient.

Treatment of mild dental anxiety will be discussed after determining patients comfort level and preference:

– Dental sedation may or may not be used depending on the patient’s preference
– Sometimes a distraction with movie glasses and/or headphones may be sufficient
– Mild sedative may be used in certain cases such as nitrous oxide “laughing gas”
– Patients with mild dental anxiety may exhibit a degree of dental fear that is controllable by the patient. Their dental fear and anxiety does not prevent them from going to the dentist. The patient may exhibit a mild degree of nervousness and irritability.