Anxious Patients

 

If you have been putting off dental treatment due to fear, anxiety or problems with anaesthetic, our relationship manager would be happy to meet you for an informal chat in a relaxed setting outwith the practice.

 

To discuss how we can help you to overcome these issues, please call on 01324 671278 or email info@falkirkdentalcare.com to book a consultation.

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At Falkirk Dental Care we understand that you may be nervous due to a bad experience in the past and, as a result, may have avoided attending a dentist from that point on. Don’t let anxiety prevent you from visiting a dentist, especially if you’re in pain. Dentists are there to alleviate that pain. At our practice we understand anxiety as experienced by many dental patients.

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Perhaps anxiety or fear has been the reason you’ve been putting off your wish for a Hollywood smile, or have avoided resolving issues such as gaps or crooked teeth. We can help you to overcome these issues. We offer therapy sessions and sedation at the practice. These will help you to overcome any dentist-related anxiety, leaving you free to improve your oral health by undergoing treatment you were too afraid to consider previously.

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Therapy Sessions and Sedation

 

Hypnotherapy

Hypnosis is an effective non-invasive talking therapy during which you do not lose control or fall asleep. You are gently guided into a deep state of relaxation, relaxing your muscles and slowing your breathing until you feel calm and relaxed. You could be asked to imagine a relaxing scene in nature while soothing music plays in the background. Once you’re in trance, our hypnotherapist can help you to make deep, long-lasting changes to your thoughts, feelings and behaviour.

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It may surprise you to learn that we all experience trance states naturally several times each day. Think about a time when – while you were watching TV - someone came into the room. You were aware of their presence and might have heard talking in the background, but you were so engrossed in your program that you did not answer until you heard your name. This is because you were in a mini natural trance. Our hypnotherapist guides you into this natural state by talking to you in soft, soothing tones.

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Hypnotherapy for Fears or Phobias

Hypnotherapy is excellent for helping people who have a fear (or phobia) of the dentist, whether it involves the sound of the drill, needles, having objects in the mouth, or some other aspect of dental procedures. These fears can all be helped by hypnosis. Sometimes people feel embarrassed by a fear or phobia, thinking that no one else experiences these. This is not the case. Our hypnotherapist has helped many people to overcome a variety of phobias. Sympathetic and caring, she will listen to your fears and work with you to resolve them at a pace comfortable to you. You will feel completely at ease. Hypnosis will take place only when you are ready.

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Fears or phobias often stem from what is called one-trial learning. Perhaps as a child you had an unpleasant experience at the dentist and, because of this, expect every experience at the dentist to be unpleasant. This thought process may have made you feel anxious about returning to a dentist. Unresolved anxiety can grow. Our hypnotherapist will teach you techniques to control your symptoms of anxiety. These include breathing exercises, visualisation exercises, and self-hypnosis techniques. You will also receive a CD to listen to and use both at home and when you are having your dental treatment. Before you know it, you will be in control again and happily attending your dental appointments.

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Other Things Hypnotherapy Can Help With

Hypnotherapy can also help with other anxiety-related dental problems such as bruxism (teeth-grinding), chewing of lips and gums, gag reflex and smoking. Additionally, hypnotherapy can help you to give up unhealthy foods and drinks, paving the way to a healthier, happier life.

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Most anxious patients need around three sessions of hypnotherapy. Everyone is different, though. Some people may need slightly fewer, or slightly more, sessions. During the first session the hypnotherapist will spend time exploring your concerns and will set some goals for therapy. Normally the first session takes around one and a half hours, after which you will be given a CD to take away. This CD allows you to continue your therapy between sessions. Subsequent sessions normally last between 50-60 minutes.

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Some Areas Where Hypnotherapy Can Help You

• Weight Management

• Stress Management

• Negative Thinking

• Anger Management

• Smoking Cessation

• Phobias

• Low Self-Esteem

• Depression

• Anxiety and Panic Attacks

• Addictions and Habits

• Confidence

• Procrastination

• Obsessions/Compulsions

• Pain Management

 

Patients consult with the hypnotherapist via our treatment coordinator.

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Dental Sedation

Sedation is a method of producing a relaxed experience for the patient by using sedative medications. These medications do not put you to sleep, although you’ll feel sleepy while under sedation. If you are in need of dental treatment, either for health or cosmetic purposes, but have anxiety and fear about undergoing treatment, or have an extreme fear of needles, it’s likely that you’d benefit from sedation dentistry. If you’ve had traumatic dental experiences in the past, sedation will help to relax you while we deliver painless, professional procedures that will improve your quality of life.

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We offer two types of sedation. IV sedation uses a sedative drug (Midazolam). This is administered into the bloodstream to make patients feel like they are asleep. The patient remains conscious, however, and able to follow requests from the dentist. The sense of fear and anxiety is replaced by a feeling of deep relaxation. Most patients will also find that they do not remember much about the experience, instead feeling like time passed in a flash. Sedation is usually a pleasurable experience for patients. The sedative drug Midazolam is administered by an experienced dentist. This is a safe procedure. The sedative takes effect quickly and the dosage can be easily manipulated by the dentist to achieve the desired level of sedation. As the drug has a short half-life, patients are able to stand up and walk out after treatment, although a chaperone is still legally required.

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To minimise the number of sedation appointments, the dentist will carry out as much of the treatment possible in one appointment. This takes about two hours. The nurse and the sedation dentist will constantly monitor you and your pulse oxymeter readings, ensuring that you are comfortable, safe and feeling fine at all times.

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Once treatment is finished under sedation, the patient is left to relax on a sofa before being escorted home by a friend or relative. Patients are advised not to work, drive or operate machinery for the rest of the day. Sedation is offered at a competitive price, from £250.

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We are proud to say that the patients we have treated under sedation have given us positive feedback on their experience. If you have a fear of dentists, but want to overcome a dental phobia and achieve good oral health, dental sedation may be for you.

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Oral Conscious Sedation

A sedative drug is given orally to relieve stress and anxiety. You will be given a prescription for a sedative to be taken before bed on the night prior to treatment, and again the following morning. These medications have a sedative effect, enabling you to relax. Your dentist will still administer local anaesthetic in order to make you more comfortable during your treatment.

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Benefits of Sedation

Sedation can help patients to be free from anxiety or fear during dental treatments.

If fear or anxiety has resulted in you putting off dental treatment, please call us on 01324 671278 or e-mail us at info@falkirkdentalcare.com. We’re here to help! Our techniques for overcoming anxiety are extremely effective. Don’t let fear hold you back. Let us help you.

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