One of the best ways to have a better year in 2019 is to improve your oral health. Not only can you enjoy a healthier, more beautiful smile, but you’ll also enjoy improved overall health. Good oral health can help you avoid heart disease, pneumonia, dementia, and more. And while you might not see all the benefits right away, studies have shown that treating gum disease can lead to significant medical savings in the care of diabetes, heart problems, pregnancy complications, and stroke.
Unfortunately, for many people, there’s a large obstacle keeping people from enjoying better oral health: dental anxiety. That may be a big obstacle, but it can be overcome, with the right help. Here’s how you can overcome dental anxiety to enjoy better oral health this year.
Find a Compassionate Dentist
Many people think they’re afraid of the dentist, but they’re actually just afraid of their dentist. Not all dentists work on their chairside manner. Some just don’t think it’s important. Others might want to be more compassionate, but they’re overbooked and stressed, and just trying to rush patients through without taking the time for niceties like making you feel welcome and safe.
But some dentists take the time to make you feel welcome. At the office of Dr. Pamela Marzban in Burke, VA, we strive to make you feel welcome from the moment you enter our practice. Dr. Marzban is kind and understanding. She takes the time to make sure you understand all the procedures. That way, you can know what to expect so you’ll be less worried. And if you have any questions, she will answer them clearly in language you can understand.
Many people find that when they come to our office, they feel so comfortable and welcome that their dental anxiety vanishes. A local dentist is better at this than a dental chain.
NuCalm: Relaxation without Drugs
But what if your anxiety is a little more serious? It might take more than a caring, compassionate dentist to turn you around. In that case, we might recommend NuCalm, which uses neuroscience to help you relax by simply turning off your body’s natural anxiety mechanisms.
NuCalm trains your brain waves to enter a unified, relaxed rhythm rather than racing around rapidly and discordantly. You’ll be surprised that your dental experience is more like deep meditation than a dental visit.
Sedation Dentistry
Although NuCalm is about 95% effective, there are some people who need a little more to help them overcome anxiety to be relaxed at the dentist. If that’s you, we offer oral sedation dentistry. Just take a pill before your dental appointment and find yourself in a conscious but deeply relaxed state. You’ll need someone to take you to and from your dental appointment and stay with you afterwards, but you’ll find that your dental appointments can be free of anxiety.
Not only that, but people who have a strong gag reflex, difficulty getting numb, or tend to be sore after a dental appointment can find relief from these problems as well.
Let Us Help
If you are hoping to improve your oral health in the coming year, but find that anxiety makes it hard, we can help. We are a caring dental practice that works hard to make our patients feel welcome. And we have tools to help people overcome more serious anxiety, too.
To learn how we can help you, please call 703-323-8200 today for an appointment with our dentist, Dr. Marzban, at her office in Burke, VA.
