Overcome Your Dental Anxiety with Painless Dentistry in Bangkok

It’s not unusual for people to have some sort of mild anxiety about going to the dentist. However, if you find yourself putting off dental appointments because the thought of going to the dentist fills you with fear, you may have dental anxiety.

Given that dental anxiety may result from a previous poor experience at the dentist, this is completely conceivable. But dental anxiety is no joke. From poor oral hygiene to more drastic scenarios, such as losing one or more teeth, dental anxiety has real consequences that can really impact the quality of your life.

At Bangkok Dental Spa, we believe that dental work doesn’t have to be anxiety-inducing or feel like torture in general. That’s why we offer a number of different techniques for reducing pain and anxiety for an altogether more pleasant dental experience.

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What is dental anxiety?

Dental anxiety is quite easy to define. The classic avoidance behavior, such as going to any length to avoid seeing a dentist until you’re in severe pain, is the first clue to understanding that you have dental anxiety. Many patients with dental anxiety are fully aware that it’s an irrational fear, yet they cannot control it whatsoever. The thought of needles, drills, and dental settings in general will trigger this state.

Some of the symptoms and signs of dental anxiety include:

Sleepless nights before a dental appointment
Being extremely nervous in the dental office waiting room
Crying and feeling ill before going to the dentist
Sweating, racing heartbeat (tachycardia), or palpitations
Low blood pressure and possible fainting (syncope)
Feeling intense uneasiness at the thought of someone placing instruments inside your mouth during the dental treatment

The common causes of dental anxiety are:

Fear of pain
Fear of injections or their effectiveness
Feeling helpless, embarrassed, or the loss of personal space
Fear of anesthetic side effects such as dizziness, feeling faint, nausea, or fat lip (numbness)

On average, 9%-20% of Americans put off going to the dentist due to dental phobia. It is a condition that can impact anyone at any age, with severe dental anxiety affecting 10%-20% of the adult population. Although you’re probably relieved that you’re not alone, this universal phenomenon can put your oral health at stake.

According to a study published in Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology, dental anxiety and oral health are highly correlated. Among other things, dental anxiety has been linked to a higher number of missing teeth. And poor oral health is not the only consequence of dental anxiety. Individuals with high levels of dental anxiety often experience other issues that impact their quality of life, such as poor sleep.

On the other hand, people who attend regular dental appointments are more likely to report good oral health, which improves their quality of life overall.

How to overcome your dental anxiety with painless dentistry in Bangkok?

It is possible to relieve dental anxiety by trying some coping techniques on your own. These can include deep breathing, meditation, listening to music and communicating your concerns to your dentist.

However, according to research, one of the main reasons for dental anxiety is bad past experiences. It may be that regardless of what measures you take to reduce your anxiety, your bad experiences will never be replaced with good ones unless you choose a provider who can work with you to overcome these issues.

At Bangkok Dental Spa, we aim to erase whatever poor experiences you had in the past, and help you feel calm, relaxed and supported throughout your treatment. We have 25 years of experience providing gentle dentistry in Bangkok, and many of our patients report feeling no pain during their treatment, be it cleaning, extractions, fillings, root canals or more complex dental work.

Inhalation sedation with nitrous oxide gas

Nitrous oxide is a mild sedative, which can often be especially helpful for patients with dental anxiety. Nitrous oxide gas (“laughing gas”) can be safely used with adults and children to manage pain and anxiety associated with dental appointments.

Nitrous oxide gas sedation is a very simple medical procedure. First, you’ll sit back in the dental chair while a well-trained dental assistant will place a small mask over your nose. Then, all you have to do is breathe through your mouth normally. Within 3-5 minutes, you will start feeling calmer, more relaxed and less anxious.

Another advantage of nitrous oxide gas sedation is that your dental treatment is likely to take less time to complete due to fewer distractions from your anxiety or pain. This can even reduce the number of appointments needed to complete the dental work. Nitrous oxide will leave your body within 3-5 minutes after the supply is switched off. As a result, you won’t need anyone else to take care of you after the appointment.

Any injections will be administered after you’re sedated, so you can lie back and relax.

The ultimate relaxation dentistry at Bangkok Dental Spa

If you’re suffering from dental phobia, the atmosphere in a typical dental clinic does very little to make you feel better. The clinical waiting rooms, the smell of disinfectant mixed with clove oil and the distant sounds of dental drills buzzing only tend to add more fuel to the fire.

At Bangkok Dental spa, we prioritize high-quality dental treatments while creating a positive experience for patients with a pleasant spa-like environment. These all work together to reduce stress and speed up the healing process. We have earned our reputation as one of the premiere Bangkok dental clinics among international visitors through the integration of high-quality dentistry within the calming environment of a luxury spa.

At Bangkok Dental Spa, we particularly welcome patients with dental anxiety, so do not hesitate to let us know your concerns. With several sedation options together with a friendly and relaxed environment, you don’t need to worry about pain or anxiety. We also keep our office equipped with the latest technology to enable our patients to have the best experience possible!

If you’re ready to banish dental anxiety once and for all, contact our friendly team for an appointment.