Removing Wisdom Teeth in Patients With Dental Anxiety
For many, the mere idea of visiting a dentist is enough to push beads of sweat over their forehead. Patients are particularly prone to major surgery, including wisdom tooth removal surgeries. A sensitive and competent oral-maxillofacial surgeon or dentist is essential in properly dealing with anxiety patients.
In addition to the type of anesthesia used – which may be local, aural, and general – people should also focus on who is performing the surgery. Even though this type of surgery is considered to be a minimally invasive surgical technique, the experience of the oral-maxillofacial surgeon or dentist is crucial. This will help to ensure that the patient stays stress and pain-free.
For heavily dislocated teeth, a three-dimensional X-ray should be taken as this will help pinpoint the exact course of the nerves in the lower jaw and prevent further injury. It is also necessary when installing a dental bridge.
In order to relieve a patient of the fear of having the procedure done and to make the procedure as painless as possible, the treating dentist can resort to a variety of measures in advance of the operation. Before the actual surgery, the patient must schedule a consultation and examination. The brain will not concern itself so much with the procedure if everything is answered during the consultation.
If Dr. Alexandre Aalam does his job, the patient comes back to the practice with a decision and not with more questions. His decision to take more time with each patient is why he has a high success rate.
In some dental practices, and prior to the application of a local anesthetic, the region where the surgery is performed is treated with an anesthetic spray. As treatment unfolds, the patient is treated with scalp acupressure, something that distracts him or her from their anxiety. Before the actual surgery, the effect of the anesthesia is checked.
If the removal of all four wisdom teeth is performed under local anesthesia, the patient may want to stop the procedure early. By using the right sedation, Dr. Aalam can keep pain under control, thus providing the patient with much-needed relaxation.
In the event that there is pain after the surgery, the patients are given a prescription for painkillers and anti-inflammatories. An early, preventive use of this pain medication prevents the pain from becoming unbearable. At follow-up appointments on the following day and on the third day after surgery, the maxillofacial surgeon or dentist will check if wound healing properly. Contact the office for more information.