Doctor Andrew J. Sampalis on Relieving dental anxiety
Well, we have a person who’s anxious about coming to the dentist. First thing I want to do is talk to them, see the level of their anxiety, see what causes the anxiety, see what their issue is. Sometimes you can just talk to them about it and and little by little, you know, start with something simple and get them over that hurdle.
And for people that that’s just not going to work, we use oral medications that will help them. It’ll help relax them. I’ve had great success with that.
I’ll give them something to take like the night before when they go to sleep and then I make their appointment with the first patient in the morning. They take another pill about a half hour before they come and I give them a third pill to take with them just in case they need it. With what I give them, they very seldom need a third pill.
Some has to bring them to the office. Okay, they come in, they’re more relaxed, never seem to have an issue. Again, some has to bring them, they can’t drive, okay.
And there’s oftentimes I’ll call them the next day and they don’t even remember coming. Okay, so they’re very comfortable going that route and for the few patients that have that level of anxiety, that seems to work very good for them.
