Tips for Calming Teenagers’ Anxiety About the Dentist
By Robert Rutner | Published on December 7, 2010 | 0 Comments
Whenever someone has not been to the dentist for awhile, the anxiety about returning can become all-encompassing. According to Rutner Dental‘s Dr. Robert Rutner, a dentist who offers Invisalign and other cosmetic treatments to teens in Mountain View, CA, it is not unusual for teenagers to be fearful about visiting the dentist’s office.
Of course, teenagers aren’t the only people who can get spooked about visiting the dentist. According to Dr. Rutner, patients of all ages report experiencing anxiety when visiting the dentist from time to time.
Whether going in for routine checkups, teeth whitening treatments, or to have Invisalign braces put on, teenage patients need to see the dentist for all different reasons. However, Dr. Rutner says that parents should not let their teens get so spooked about going to the dentist that they avoid going at all.
When treating teenage patients, Dr. Rutner says there are a number of tools that dentists have at their disposal to make the process go smoothly. As long as the patient is old enough to take adult medications, there are a number of sedation tools that dentists can use to make treatment less stressful.
Dr. Rutner recommends that teenage patients or their parents let the staff at the dentist’s office know about any dental phobias or anxieties they may have. This way, prior to an anxious teen’s appointment, the dentist can be prepared with a few anti-anxiety medication options. Although Valium is the most common drug that dentists will prescribe to patients with anxiety issues, Dr. Rutner says there are other medications that can be used to take the edge off during a general dental checkup as well.
In cases where teenage patients are not ready for Valium or other anti-anxiety medications, another option exists in the form of laughing gas. Laughing gas will calm patients’ nerves so that they are more tolerant of the various things going on around them during their appointments. Although laughing gas is most commonly used on children, it can also be used on some adults and teenagers – either instead of anti-anxiety medications or in conjunction with them if needed.
More than anything else, Dr. Rutner says that kids, teens, and adults must try not to let anxiety stop them from visiting the dentist on a regular basis. Giving in to the fear will only result in additional oral health problems down the line.
*Disclaimer: The information on this website is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.