18
Aug
Managing Anxiety Before a Root Canal
Many of us have an irrational fear of going to the dentist, even if it’s only for a cleaning. Having anxiety before a visit is very common, but for some people it’s actually debilitating. If you have avoided the dentist due to uncontrolled fear and now need a root canal, there are steps you can take to ease your tension before the procedure.
Dr. Rick D Davis and Dr. Rick S Schwartz at Endodontic Consultants of San Antonio, have years of endodontic experience and are happy to address your root canal concerns. Our team can help ease your fears related to your upcoming root canal procedure.
Why do you need a root canal?
Every one of your teeth has a pulp in the center that contains the nerve and blood vessels. This is also called the root. The root helps in sensing hot and cold, and also lets you know if something is wrong with your tooth such as a cavity.
This pulp can become inflamed and cause you a significant amount of pain if it becomes infected. This is caused by bacteria inside your tooth and can lead to:
- Intense discomfort
- Swelling of the gums or mouth
- An abscess
- Bone deterioration around the infected tooth
The root canal itself isn’t actually painful at all. The procedure helps relieve the aching tooth by removing the inflamed pulp.
Our team takes X-rays of your tooth to confirm the need for the procedure. They then numb the area around that tooth and begin drilling and cleaning out the infected pulp. After the bad tooth is cleaned out, they fill the empty space with a compound to close it up. To wrap up the procedure, Dr. Davis or Dr. Schwartz puts a filling or crown on the affected tooth to restore its strength.
What causes anxiety before dental visits?
Many people just like you have experienced some form of anxiety before a dentist appointment. Although it’s common, for you it may be completely debilitating and cause you to cancel appointments or avoid the dentist at all costs.
There are several reasons you may have a fear of the dentist that include:
- Fear of pain
- Worry about how much it will cost
- Fear of infection or germs
- Fear of the unknown
No matter what the reason for your dental insecurities, it’s important to figure out how to tame your mind before your appointment so that you keep your mouth happy and healthy.
The team at Endodontic Consultants of San Antonio helps to ease some of your anxiety by explaining what they will do during the root canal procedure, and by taking steps to ensure you are comfortable while they are working.
How you can manage dental anxiety
If you’re in need of a root canal, your mind may be racing and concern rising about how painful the procedure will be or how much it will cost. The good news is that there are several ways to calm your fears before your procedure. Some of the things you can do include:
Meditation
Meditation can be utilized before the procedure by focusing on your breathing to naturally calm your anxiety.
Visualization
Visualizing yourself having a great, pain-free appointment or picturing a beautiful place that makes you happy and puts your mind at ease can calm your anxiety.
Listening to music
Music is a stress reliever for many of us, and can help drown out the sound of the dental instruments during your procedure.
Something else you can do to help ease your mind about your root canal is to gain as much knowledge about the procedure as possible. Discussing your concerns with our team and educating yourself about the procedure can really help take the fear of the unknown out of the equation.
If you’re in need of a root canal, call our office today at (210) 405-0473 to schedule an appointment with our team, or conveniently book an appointment online.
Dr. Richard Davis, DDS
Richard D. Davis, DDS, graduated from high school in Japan, attended the University of Washington dental school, and joined the Air Force as a general dentist in 1978. He completed the Air Force one-year AEGD residency, a two-year Advanced General Dentistry Residency, and a fellowship in biomaterials at the University of Indiana. Dr. Davis was a clinical instructor, research director, and lecturer at the Air Force. He has published many scientific articles and research papers, and has lectured on many topics. Following retirement from the Air Force in 1999, he completed the graduate program in endodontics at the University of Oregon in 2001, and joined Dr. Schwartz and has been in private practice in endodontics since then.
Dr. Richard Schwartz, DDS
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Richard S. Schwartz, DDS, graduated from the University of Minnesota dental school in 1977. He was a restorative dentist for 19 years: Early in his career, he attended a two-year general dentistry residency while in the US Air Force, and then did a combination of private practice, teaching, and dental materials research before entering endodontic post-graduate training in 1996. He has authored over 100 articles and abstracts in scientific journals and lectured extensively in the US and in 21 other countries, including 12 times at the American Association of Endodontists’ national meeting. Since 1998 Dr. Schwartz has been in full-time private practice in endodontics in San Antonio, TX, and has practiced with Dr. Davis since 2001. He was a founding member and first secretary/treasurer of the International Association of Endodontics. He is also a member of the American Dental Association and International Association of Dental Specialists.
