For many Americans, a visit to the dentist sounds downright terrifying. For some it’s right up there with a nighttime visit from Freddy Krueger or saying “Bloody Mary” in the mirror three times. Or worse yet, LSU fumbling the football on the goal-line while down by six, with a minute left to go in the game.
At Bayou Family Dental in Monroe, LA, we understand that some people are afraid of visiting the dentist. In today’s blog, we want to address those fears and hopefully put your mind at rest. Because dentists are doctors, not villains.
Let Professionals Take Care of You
At Bayou Family Dental, you’re in the hands of a trained, and professional staff. Dr. David Finley was educated at the Louisiana State University. He has been practicing dentistry for more than thirty years.
He is one of only thirty dentists in the entire world to hold fellowships with both the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and the Academy of General Dentistry. He also keeps his skills sharp by attending hundreds of hours of continuing education courses.
The rest of our staff are also skilled and experienced. Our clinical staff members are certified in Advanced Life Support to ensure your safety and comfort at all times.
We use a gentle hand, and the latest in dental technology to help keep you comfortable and at ease. Our office is clean and modern, and follows the strictest standards in dental hygiene. We also use safe, digital X-rays, laser technology, and air abrasion technology to ensure you have a good experience in our office.
Relax with Dental Sedation
If fear of the dentist is keeping you from getting needed dental work, you may interested in learning about our options for dental sedation. Dental sedation can help you feel relaxed and comfortable during procedures, and is available with any of the procedures with perform. This means you can get years of needed dental work performed in only one or two appointments, and the whole process is a breeze.
At the office, we offer Nitrous Oxide sedation. You may have heard this referred to as ‘laughing gas.’ Before your procedure, we gently place a comfortable mask over your face. Through this mask, you breathe in safe, clean, and health nitrous oxide.
Almost immediately, you will feel relaxed, almost like you are in a gentle sleep. However, you will never lose consciousness can communicate with our staff as needed. After the procedure, we turn off the gas and you will quickly return to normal. You can even drive home after the procedure. We find this to be the best option for many of our patients.
If you’d prefer to remember less of the procedure, we are also certified to offer Oral Conscious Sedation at the Bayou Dental Group in Monroe, LA. With Oral Sedation, we check your health and may be able to prescribe you a gentle medicine to help put you in a sleep-like state. You may experience ‘lost time’ where you do not remember the procedure at all, however, you won’t lose consciousness at any time.
Commonly prescribed medicines include Halcion and Restoril. Restoril is classified as a sedative-hypnotic medicine, and is used in this setting to help you relax. Halcion is also classified as a sedative-hypnotic medicine, and asks in much the same manner as Restoril. We will work with you to prescribe the best medicine for you and your needs.
You simply take the medicine a few minutes before the procedure, then sit back and relax. We can have your smile fixed up and looking great in no-time at all.
Don’t Put Off Needed Dental Work
Fear of the dentist can be costly and painful in the long run. The American Dental Association recommends visiting the dentist at least twice a year for a dental exam. This allows us to perform preventative dentistry to keep your smile health instead of restorative dentistry to fix existing problems.
In addition, we are able to detect and treat oral diseases such as gum disease and oral cancer during routine dental exams. The alternative could be absolutely devastating to your teeth, and your health in general. That dental exam might just save your life!
Do not ignore common problems such as toothaches, or sensitivity to hot or cold foods. Listen to your mouth when it gives you a message; do not listen to the part of the brain that tells you that you’re afraid of the dentist.
Make An Appointment
Whether you’re ready to conquer your fears, or just have more questions to ask, click here to contact us. At Bayou Family Dental in Monroe, LA, we can help take fear out of your dental equation.