Your dentist is on your side. In fact, dentists are on the front lines of ensuring that their patients enjoy good oral health, and they are eager to offer advice and self-care tips to keep your pearly whites shining. If you have been avoiding the dentist like the plague because of your fears or a sad experience at another dentist's office, there is hope. A positive dental office can help set your fears at ease and so can the following tips.

Consider Sedation Dentistry

Sedation dentistry is optimal for patients who are unable to sit still while the dentist does a check-up and fixes their teeth problems. Sometimes called sleep dentistry, it enables the dentist to fix multiple problems at once without causing pain or discomfort to patients who may otherwise struggle with keeping their mouths open for that period of time or having multiple areas numbed.

Know Why Sedation Dentistry is Safe

The thought of IV sedation may cause some to be anxious as well, but this is a very safe form of dentistry that requires extensive training. Additionally, a patient's vitals are checked throughout this procedure. The dentist ensures that the following vitals are checked, among others, throughout the dental work.

• Blood Pressure
• Heart Rhythm
• Healthy Breathing
• Oxygenation

Be Sure to Ask Questions

Your dentist and the caring staff members at the dentist's office will be happy to answer any questions that you have about sedation dentistry. Make a list of questions that you want answered before calling, to ensure that you address all the things you need to know. Among the questions you may want to ask include the following:

• How often do you use sedation dentistry with (specific procedure you need)?
• How long do you think the procedure will take?
• How do you ensure a patient's safety with sleep dentistry?
• Do your patients remember the procedure?
• What do you wish patients already knew about sedation dentistry?
• How can I best prepare for this procedure?
• How do I know if it's covered under my insurance? (Spoiler alert; It usually is.)

Finally, keep in mind that your dentist wants what's best for you. Your dental health is the priority as a patient, and you can work with your dentist to map out an optimal plan of care for your teeth going forward. There's no need to deprive yourself of much-needed dental care. It's within reach of everyone, and it's possible to kick those fears to the curb once and for all.