Afraid of the Dentist? 5 Ways to Reduce Dental Anxiety

dental anxiety treatment Kelowna

Talk to your dentist

There’s something about having knowledge on anything unknown that makes us feel less afraid or at least more self-assured handling the unknown. If you consider dentistry an unknown topic, maybe you can educate yourself by asking your dentist lots of questions. Find a dentist willing to listen to your fearful thoughts and concerns so they can better assure you there isn’t much to worry about. Usually when we talk about our fears someone with more information can help by reducing our anxiety. They may even eliminate it completely by showing our thoughts to be entirely irrational.

Meditate

Studies show how incorporating a 10-minute meditation routine can increase our overall feeling of wellness considerably. Think of meditation as a way for you to focus on the present moment and be comfortable with a subtle feeling of relaxation. This will provide a sense of peace we don’t always experience in our day-to-day lives. Ask yourself, “When was the last time I dedicated time to concentrate on the present moment and simply watch life pass, instead of trying to control everything.” With meditation, we can tune in to our natural way of being and more easily distinguish the difference between a real-life threat or an anxious thought.

Bring a friend or family member to your appointments

Sometimes modifying your environment in a way that’s more familiar will reduce anxiety. A great way of doing this is to bring someone familiar to your dental appointments who can offer emotional support. This could be a close friend or family member who understands how you feel. You should bring someone who is prepared to talk you out of negative thinking patterns. Your companion ideally will comprehend they are there for you and that this isn’t so much about the two of you hanging out socializing. Make sure they are up to the challenge!

Practice good oral hygiene

By having superb oral hygiene you can feel more confident about your next visit to the dentist. With excellent dental care you can go into the dentist with a lower chance of having a root canal or being diagnosed with gingivitis, the onset to periodontal disease. See why these conditions may worsen your nervousness? If you were diagnosed with gingivitis, your mind would have logical reasons for feeling anxious which is not what we want. However, if you’ve been doing the regular brushing and flossing as recommended then there isn’t as much to worry about.

Seek out a therapist

Are you feeling anxious all the time or just while at the dentist? Seeking out a therapist may help with dental anxiety. Your therapist may advise adjusting your daily routine to help fight both dental anxiety and any anxiety from day to day life. Or, your dentist may suggest specific techniques to focus on while at the dentist. The 3-2-1 technique involves naming 3 things you can hear, followed by 3 you can see and lastly, things you can feel. Then you reduce the numbers to 2, then 1. This is a valuable exercise you can do while in a dentist’s office or anywhere you may feel anxious.

Contact Love Your Smile – Dr. Stephen Malfair:

250-860-8900

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

301-1890 Cooper Rd
Kelowna, British Columbia
V1Y 8B7


Why You Shouldn’t Dread Going To The Dentist

Mission gentle dentist

Do you have a dental issue that needs attention?

Have you been putting off a dental visit?

Good news! Dentistry in the Kelowna area and around British Columbia is nothing like it was when you were a kid. (Even if you’re still a kid, we invite you to keep reading.)

There Is No Reason to Avoid Dental Visits

First off, if you need dental treatment, oral sedation dentistry allows you to sleep during the procedure. There are several levels of sedation–you can remain conscious or take a trip to la-la land.

Schedule a consultation with Dr. Stephen Malfair for more important specifics about sleep dentistry.

If you have a bad memory of hurting for days after a procedure, relax. Improved painkillers, lasers, and advanced techniques have reduced the pain experienced by Love Your Smile – Dr. Stephen Malfair patients. If you need extensive treatment, we will create a pain management plan to ensure that you remain comfortable.

You Won’t Be Here All Day

We can perform procedures much quicker with today’s extremely precise dental instruments. Healing times for oral surgery are also much shorter.

You don’t have to live with gaps in your smile, sore gums, stained teeth, or a toothache. We can take care of all your dental problems. We will help restore your oral health to improve your quality of life and prevent dental problems from affecting other parts of your body.

Today’s dentistry is not your father’s dentistry. We invite you to discover why you shouldn’t avoid the dentist any longer.

Contact Love Your Smile – Dr. Stephen Malfair:

250-860-8900

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

301-1890 Cooper Rd
Kelowna, British Columbia
V1Y 8B7


Keeping Patients Calm Since 2004

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Keeping Patients Calm

If you tense up just thinking about going to the dentist, you may benefit from sedation dentistry offered by Love Your Smile in Kelowna.

Millions of Americans stress out when they have to see the dentist. It is referred to as dental anxiety. There is a more severe form, too, called dental phobia. In both, some people would rather skip the dentist altogether than sit down for a checkup. The problem with that, of course, is it puts their dental health at risk.

There are lots of reasons why people develop anxiety or phobia over dental care. It often stems from a bad experience they had with a dentist as a kid. Fear of pain may be involved, as well as a fear of anesthesics and possible side effects.

Whatever the cause, sedation dentistry has helped millions of people get through their appointments.

We offer three types:

Nitrous Oxide – You also know this as laughing gas. Nitrous oxide has been used in dentistry for more than a century and is highly effective.

Oral conscious sedation – You take a sedative an hour or so before the appointment. You won’t sleep, but will be in a deeply relaxed state. When the appointment is over, someone will have to drive you home.

IV Sedation – As the name suggests, this is a sedative that is administered intravenously. You won’t sleep with this one, either, but will be in a deeply relaxed state. You’ll need an escort for a ride here and back.

Remember, it is critical that you do not compromise your dental health by skipping the dentist. Sedation dentistry from Love Your Smile in Kelowna has helped patients throughout Mission, V1Y 8B7, and V1W 3C6. Our services include general and children’s dentistry. Schedule an appointment today!

 

Contact Love Your Smile – Dr. Stephen Malfair:

250-860-8900

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

301-1890 Cooper Rd
Kelowna, British Columbia
V1Y 8B7

 

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Is Sedation Dentistry Safe?

Affordable Kelowna Dentistry Sedation

The purpose of this article from Love Your Smile in Kelowna is to debunk some of the most common myths about sedation dentistry.

Myth #1: With Sedation Dentistry, You Are Completely Unconscious

Some dental patients are not only afraid of receiving treatment; they also fear the thought of not being in control. We offer different levels of sedation, but none of the sedation options put you completely to sleep.

Myth #2: Dental Sedation Should Only Be Used For Extensive Dental Treatment

Anxiety-free dentistry is completely safe. Many nervous sedation dentistry patients request sedation for routine exams and procedures.

Myth #3: Most Dental Insurance Companies Do Not Cover Sleep Dentistry

Some insurers do cover sedation. Check with your provider for details about your benefits.

Myth #4: Sleep Dentistry Is Still Experimental

Dentists have been safely providing sedation for many years. We meet all the requirements advised by the American Dental Association. We offer two types of sedation!

  1. Oral Conscious Sedation: You take a prescribed sedative before your appointment. It makes you sleepy, but you won’t sleep. You will need someone to drive you to and from our office.
  2. IV Sedation: A deeper level of sedation, this can be monitored and controlled by your dentist and the effects are felt almost immediately. You will feel relaxed and drift into a sleep-like state, where you will be unaware of the procedure.

Sedation dentistry from Love Your Smile in Kelowna is a boon to people with dental anxiety. People from Mission, V1Y 8B7, and V1W 3C6 have benefitted from it. We also offer complete general dentistry. Contact us today!

Contact Love Your Smile – Dr. Stephen Malfair:

250-860-8900

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

301-1890 Cooper Rd
Kelowna, British Columbia
V1Y 8B7

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Don’t Let Fear Of The Dentist Compromise Your Oral Health

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If you have claustrophobia, you avoid enclosed spaces. If you have arachnophobia, you stay away from spiders. Fair enough! But if you fear the dentist, you may be inclined to avoid checkups. At Love Your Smile in Kelowna, we know this is a bad idea.

The connection between your dental health and overall health is, by now, well-established. Skipping regular checkups due to fear, or any other reason, puts your general health at risk, too.

Help Is Here

A solution that works is sedation dentistry. We offer oral conscious sedation.

Oral conscious sedation involves taking a prescribed sedative an hour or so before your appointment. It won’t put you out, but it will make you very groggy. You can expect to be only minimally aware of your surroundings: the sights, sounds, and smells of the office. Most importantly, you won’t be aware of any pain.

It’s important to know that it takes a while for the effects to wear off. You will need to have someone escort you to and from our office.

Sedation dentistry from Love Your Smile in Kelowna has allowed countless Canadians to get the treatment they deserve. We offer complete general dentistry services. We serve satisfied patients in Mission, V1Y 8B7, and V1W 3C6. Request an appointment today!

Contact Love Your Smile – Dr. Stephen Malfair:

250-860-8900

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

301-1890 Cooper Rd
Kelowna, British Columbia
V1Y 8B7

 

ArticleID 8082

Worried About Dental Visits?

sleep dentistry Kelowna

Good dental health is important to overall health, but there are some people who would do almost anything rather than sit down for a dentist appointment. If anxiety or even phobia keeps you away from regular checkups, sedation dentistry from Love Your Smile in Kelowna can help.

There are lots of reasons why people avoid the dentist. It may stem from a bad childhood experience or a fear of pain. It may be from concerns about X-rays or some other common dental procedure. Whatever it is, don’t put your dental health at risk by never going to the dentist.

Modern dentistry is safe and painless. If you’re concerned about something like X-rays, we can accommodate you. The important thing is to have regular checkups, and to have any dental health issues treated.

We have two types of sedation:

  • Oral conscious sedation. You are provided with a prescribed sedative that you take an hour or so before your appointment. (We’ll give you specifics.) It takes a few hours to wear off, and you will need someone to drive you home afterward.
  • IV Sedation. This is a stronger form of sedation that is administered in the arm. You won’t sleep, but will be in a deep state of relaxation: so much so that you will need someone to drive you to and from your appointment.

If you have been putting off seeing the dentist because of anxiety or phobia, sedation dentistry from Love Your Smile in Kelowna can help. Patients from Mission, V1Y 8B7, and V1W 3C6 rely on us for complete general dentistry, and much more. Schedule an appointment with us today!

Contact Love Your Smile – Dr. Stephen Malfair:

250-860-8900

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

301-1890 Cooper Rd
Kelowna, British Columbia
V1Y 8B7

 

ArticleID 6626

Let Us Ease Your Dental Anxiety

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If you tense up just thinking about going to the dentist, you may benefit from sedation dentistry offered by Love Your Smile in Kelowna.

Millions of people stress out when they have to see the dentist. It is referred to as dental anxiety. There is a more severe form, too, called dental phobia. In both, some people would rather skip the dentist altogether than sit down for a checkup. The problem with that, of course, is it puts their dental health at risk.

There are lots of reasons why people develop anxiety or phobia over dental care. It often stems from a bad experience they had with a dentist as a kid. Fear of pain may be involved, as well as a fear of anesthesics and possible side effects.

Whatever the cause, sedation dentistry has helped millions of people get through their appointments.

We offer two types:

  • Oral conscious sedation. You take a sedative an hour or so before the appointment. You won’t sleep, but will be in a deeply relaxed state. When the appointment is over, someone will have to drive you home.
  • IV Sedation. As the name suggests, this is a sedative that is administered intravenously. You won’t sleep with this one, either, but will be in a deeply relaxed state. You’ll need an escort for a ride here and back.

Whatever your issue is, it is essential that you do not compromise your dental health by skipping the dentist. Sedation dentistry from Love Your Smile in Kelowna has remedied the dental anxiety in our patients throughout Mission, V1Y 8B7, and V1W 3C6. Schedule an appointment today!

Contact Love Your Smile – Dr. Stephen Malfair:

250-860-8900

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

301-1890 Cooper Rd
Kelowna, British Columbia
V1Y 8B7

 

ArticleID 5525

Keeping You Comfortable

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At Love Your Smile in Kelowna, we make every effort to keep our patients comfortable. Though our chairs are cushy as can be, we are not only talking about physical comfort here. We are talking about peace of mind.

Here are four ways we are dedicated to your peace of mind at Love Your Smile:

1. We don’t judge you. We have devoted our careers to promoting dental health and creating beautiful smiles.

We have treated patients with severe tooth neglect, advanced gum disease, enamel erosion caused by eating disorders, tooth damage caused by illegal drug use, baby bottle tooth decay, tobacco-stained teeth: basically, every imaginable dental trouble. We don’t live in a bubble. We understand and empathize with our patients.

2. We protect you from pain. From topical analgesics to sedation, we will eliminate or minimize pain as best we can. Your comfort is important to us.

3. We help you with your dental anxiety. Fear of the dentist is far more prevalent than you might realize and certainly nothing to be ashamed of. The perceived loss of control, instruments poking in your mouth, and teeth being worked on is not pleasant. Some individuals get claustrophobic because they need to lie still in the chair for treatment.

Sedation dentistry allows you to relax through your appointment. There are different levels of sedation, and we’ll determine the one that is best for you.

4. We communicate with you.
 Procedures are thoroughly explained and all your critical questions will be answered prior to treatment. If you are not sure you want to initiate treatment, we are happy to let you think about it for a while. There is no rush.

If you have postponed dental treatment for any reason, we encourage you to call us at Love Your Smile in Kelowna. Don’t put your dental health at risk! Our services include general and cosmetic dentistry. Make an appointment today.

Contact Love Your Smile – Dr. Stephen Malfair:

250-860-8900

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

301-1890 Cooper Rd
Kelowna, British Columbia
V1Y 8B7

 

ArticleID 7038

You Won’t Be Out Cold (Unless You Want To Be!)

Sedation Dentistry V1W 3C6

Does your heart start pounding at the mere thought of having a cavity filled? Do you get sweaty palms when you see a dental practice? At Love Your Smile Dentistry in Kelowna, we can help with sedation dentistry.

Many people who have improved their smile with cosmetic dentistry or underwent extensive restoration care chose to use sedation. Though the terms ‘sleep dentistry’ and ‘oral conscious sedation’ are often used interchangeably, they are not identical. At Love Your Smile, we offer oral conscious sedation and IV sedation.

Oral Conscious Sedation
Oral sedatives, which we provide, are taken about an hour before your scheduled procedure. These help most patients achieve a deep level of tranquility. They do not usually result in complete unconsciousness. But you will be extremely drowzy. Because of this, you’ll need someone to drive you to the appointment, and home afterward.

IV Sedation
IV sedation uses medications similar to those used in surgery. As the name suggests, they are administered intravenously. You’ll be in a deep state of relaxation; most patients are oblivious to what is happening in their mouth. IV sedation is often used for procedures such as root canals and wisdom teeth extractions, and multi-procedure smile transformations.

For more details about sedation dentistry, call Love Your Smile in Kelowna. Our services include general dentistry. Schedule an appointment with us today,

Contact Love Your Smile – Dr. Stephen Malfair:

250-860-8900

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

301-1890 Cooper Rd
Kelowna, British Columbia
V1Y 8B7

 

ArticleID 4898

Help For Nervous Patients

Sedation Dentistry in KelownaConsider the following scenario: You are stretched out in a chair at the dentist’s office when a bright overhead light turns on, and you see latex-gloved hands moving toward your open mouth. Your heart begins to race and your palms are sweaty. If so, you may be a good candidate for sedation dentistry from Love Your Smile in Kelowna.

Sedation dentistry benefits nervous dental patients every day. Moderate sedation aids in all types of dental care such as root canals, dental implants, and wisdom teeth removal.

If you are planning to undergo extensive restorative or cosmetic dental work, sedation may permit the dentist to perform multiple procedures in a single visit while you remain calm.

At Love Your Smile, we offer two options: oral conscious sedation, which involves taking a sedative, and IV sedation, administered intravenously. Both are effective; you’ll need a ride home afterward.

If you’re coping with dental anxiety, sedation dentistry from Love Your Smile in Kelowna, sedation dentistry allows you to get the work you need to maintain your dental health. We also provide general dentistry. Schedule an appointment with us today.

Contact Love Your Smile – Dr. Stephen Malfair:

250-860-8900

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

301-1890 Cooper Rd
Kelowna, British Columbia
V1Y 8B7

 

ArticleID 946