Anxious About Your Tooth Exam? This Information May Help

Posted on: 13 January 2019

If you suffer from panic disorder or another type of anxiety disorder, you may worry about a lot of things, including your upcoming tooth exam. Although panic disorder can make you feel uncomfortable during dental appointments, you can find ways to get through your exam. The information below can help you ease your worries before and during your tooth exam. 

How Does Panic Disorder Affect Your Mouth?

Panic disorder can affect multiple areas of your life, including how well you sleep at night, how well you function under pressure, and how well you react to dental and medical treatments. The disorder can also raise your blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration. If you don't find ways to calm the emotional turmoil in your life, it can affect the outcome of your dental health.

Anxiety disorders can cause a number of problems with your oral health, including bruxism, temporomandibular joint disorder, and tooth decay. Many of these dental complications can lead to mouth, gum, and tooth infections. If one or more of your teeth develops a problem, a dentist may need to surgically extract it. 

You can take control of your panic disorder symptoms and protect your oral health with the right information.

What Should You Do About Your Panic Disorder?

Before your appointment, contact a dentist and talk to them about your panic disorder. If a dentist doesn't know about your condition, they can't help you get through it during your exam. One of the things a dentist can use to make your tooth exam more tolerable is sedation dentistry.

Dentists use medications, intravenous drips, and other types of medication to sedate or soothe their patients during exams and other treatments. Some of the medications used for sedation dentistry can cause sleepiness. If you prefer to sleep through your dental exam, be sure to discuss it with a dental provider beforehand. A dentist can explain the effects of these types of medications and what you may expect to occur if you choose to use them during your visit.

In addition to sedation dentistry, you can calm the symptoms of your panic disorder by watching what you eat and drink. Avoid items that make you jittery, such as soda and candy. Instead of eat or drink the items listed above, opt for healthier fare, such as low fat yogurt and white tea. Although white tea contains some caffeine, it can help relax your mind and protect your teeth from future cavities and infection.

If you need immediate assistance about your panic disorder or upcoming tooth exam, contact a dental provider today.

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