For many persons, having dental treatment can cause a high level of fear and anxiety. To enable anxious patients to have more comfortable dental experiences and receive the care they need for dental health, oral medications can be taken before treatment to greatly reduce anxiety. A simple technique is to take one or two anti-anxiety pills (such as “Ativan”) about an hour before dental treatment. The patient must have transportation to and from the dental visit provided by a friend or family member for safety, and they will probably want to sleep at home after treatment is completed. Patients who “pre-medicate” in this way, will be awake, but far more relaxed and less nervous about treatment, and often can enjoy very comfortable dental experiences once their anxiety is relieved.
If you are very anxious about dental treatment but need to receive care, please talk to Dr. Emerson and his staff to see if oral sedation could be the technique you need to allow you to have safe, comfortable, successful dental visits, and achieve the health you deserve!