A gag reflex is a very important safety mechanism.  It can help to stop food/ foreign objects from choking you.  However some people have an overly sensitive reflex, so having dental treatment can be a very daunting prospect.

At Time Dental, Dr Rashid first discussed the concerns that this particular patient had.  He had also had a very bad experience in the past as a child which had really put him off seeing a dentist.  He felt he had a loss of control whenever he was in the dental chair.  The first steps to help him was to give him back the sense of control, and also guide him through gentle breathing excercises and techniques to help him control both his feelings of loss of control and his gag reflex.  This was all before he even sat in the dental chair.

A comprehenisve dental examination and consultation was carried out.  This is where his teeth, gums, tongue, tissues that line the mouth, chewing muscles and jaw joint were assessed for health.  X rays were also taken to assess the invisble health of the teeth.

Due to the particular apprehension of the patient a joint decision was made to carry out his dental treatment under conscious sedation.  This uses a sedative which helps to relax the patient.  Although the patient is completely awake through the treatment the sedative also provides excellent amnesic properties.

The good news is this can now be achieved.  With improvements in local anaesthetic techniques there is now no longer a reason to have painful dentistry.  At Time Dental, topcial anaesthetic gel is first applied to the gum area.  This helps to numb the gum before any local anaesthetic is given.  The anaesthetic is then given very slowly.  This is the best way to help numb the teeth.  The slower that it is given the more comfortable it is.

Even the thought of local anaesthetic is hard for some people to manage.  If you are extremely nervous another option could be to have conscious sedation.  This is where a sedative is given either through a tablet form or intravenously.  Sedation helps you to relax and so reduce the anxiety when having dental treatment.  It is safe and becoming more routine as there is an understanding for a need for comfortable stress free dentistry.

Time Dental have a gentle approach to dentistry, helping you feel comfortable however nervous you may initially feel.