Dental Anxiety in America: How Compassion and Sedation Improve Patient Care

According to The Journal of the American Dental Association, roughly 73% of Americans report having some form of dental anxiety, and 21% avoid seeing the dentist entirely due to fear or past traumatic experiences. Despite using our teeth every day for function, esthetics, and speech, approximately 73 million out of 347 million Americans will not see a dentist. Going to the dentist does not need to be a traumatic experience. The following techniques and approaches can help create a positive, encouraging appointment for patients seeking care.

1) Compassionate understanding and listening. As dentists, our primary responsibility is to understand our patients’ needs. This includes hearing their stories, acknowledging past experiences, and ensuring they feel we are working together as a team to achieve good oral health. A consultation appointment can help acclimate patients to the dentist, the dental team, and the office environment before developing a treatment plan or performing a clinical exam.

2) Nitrous oxide sedation. Nitrous oxide, commonly known as “laughing gas,” helps many patients feel at ease and promotes a calm state of mind during treatment. The dosage can be adjusted based on each patient’s level of anxiety, allowing for a personalized and comfortable experience.

3) IV moderate sedation. Intravenous (IV) sedation can be used alone or in combination with nitrous oxide to place patients in a deeply relaxed, calm state. Most patients become comfortable enough to gently fall asleep, experience little to no pain, and often have no memory of the procedure due to the amnesic effects of the medications.

Our goal as dentists is to ensure patients are safe, feel heard, and leave their appointments feeling positive about their experience and confident in the investment they’ve made in their health. Personally, I strive to help patients feel valued for who they are and for the experiences they bring with them. Everyone has a unique story. When we take the time to understand what shapes their feelings and concerns, we can achieve our shared goal of keeping patients happy and healthy.