Transforming your smile: addressing dental fear and anxiety
Get a new smile and a new lease on life at the office of Advanced Dental. Our team, led by Drs Chitra Tiruveedula and Joseph C. Yang, has developed a strong following among many formerly fearful or anxious patients across the Aliso Viejo, California, area. Often, these patients haven’t visited a dentist in years due to crippling anxiety and apprehension. Drs Tiruveedula and Yang heard them and did not judge them. We hear your concerns, too, and also provide a judgment-free zone as we work toward understanding and resolving your unique dental “triggers” for anxiety and fear.
What do you mean by triggers?
Sometimes, the sensations, smells, sights, and sounds associated with day-to-day services and treatments at the dentist’s office can trigger fear and apprehension. Every effort has been made to minimize or eliminate those triggers.
How have you minimized/avoided these triggers?
Our practice is built on a foundation of gentle, minimally invasive services and therapies. We use the most light-touch techniques and technologies to perform the treatments you need to have a healthy, beautiful smile and support your best overall health and wellness. Examples include our use of laser-assisted dentistry. Many procedures can be performed without the use of scalpels, needles, drills, and other fear-inducing instruments. The laser supports optimal treatment while reducing pain, swelling, and the risk of serious complications.
Put Your Dental Fears to Rest
Dental fear and anxiety are very real for most patients. Some even delay vital dental treatments for many years due to their fear of the dentist. This needn’t be the case if you live in or around Aliso Viejo, CA. The Advanced Dental team, led by Drs. Chitra Tiruveedula and Joseph C. Yang, offers a variety of options and amenities, including sedation, to make your dental experience smooth and comfortable. Don’t put off your appointment due to fear.
Ease Dental Fear
Comfortable Visits
Sedation Options Available
Stress-Free Experience
Do you have sedation?
Getting to know our team and the comfortable office environment can help build trust and alleviate concerns and fears. However, we appreciate that patients bring with them different backgrounds, experiences, and perceptions of dentistry to each appointment. So, you may require a little more “help” in the form of relaxing medication.
What types of sedation do you offer?
To truly accommodate everyone, our dentists are qualified and have the onsite capabilities to offer everything from “light” or minimal sedation with laughing gas (nitrous oxide) to deeper forms of sedation – oral conscious and IV. The former option involves wearing a lightweight nasal mask to deliver the relaxing gas. In contrast, the latter two options are delivered via a prescription oral sedative medication and intravenously through a vein.
Do I need to arrange for someone to drive me to and from my appointment when sedatives are used?
It really depends on the type of sedation that is administered. The effects of nitrous oxide both take hold and wear off very quickly. There should be no lingering drowsiness that impairs your ability to safely drive or operate other machinery afterward. This is not the case with the deeper sedative methods mentioned here. In those cases, you must confirm reliable transportation as it is not safe for you to drive on these sedatives.
Fighting dental fear does not have a single silver bullet solution. It is a sum of many different parts. Let us acquaint you with our relaxing office amenities, truly caring and understanding staff, and state-of-the-art technologies to support the best possible experience. Altogether, we can lift the health and beauty of your smile and the rest of you by lifting the heavy burden of fear from your shoulders. Advanced Dental welcomes the opportunity to discuss any concerns with you – please call our Aliso Viejo, CA office at (949) 289-9993 today.
Dental Anxiety & Fear FAQs
Why do I have dental fear?
The common cause of dental fear is past traumatic experiences at a dental office. However, this is not always the case. Some people have dental anxiety, despite not having set foot in a dental office.
That said, these are other causes of dental fear, including:
- Fear of pain
- Feeling out of control or helpless
- Fear of injections
- Embarrassment with the current state of oral health
- Generalized anxiety disorder
- Dental sounds, smells, and other sensations
Whatever the cause of dental anxiety, you can enjoy dentistry again. Modern dentistry is designed to be calm, gentle, and patient-focused.
What are the signs of dental anxiety?
Even though dental anxiety manifests in several ways, some of the most common ways include:
- Trouble sleeping before an appointment
- Feeling physically ill when you think about dental appointments
- Feeling tense or panicked in the chair
- Sweaty palms and a racing heart while waiting to be examined
- Avoiding the dentist altogether
- Trouble breathing or panicking when the dentist is working on your mouth
If you experience any of these signs, you are not a difficult patient. You just need dental care delivered differently. We understand dental anxiety is real and go an extra step to make you feel comfortable.
Who can suffer from dental anxiety?
Anyone. Dental anxiety does not discriminate. It can affect children, teens, and adults alike. Anxiety doesn’t follow rules, and it doesn’t mean you are difficult or “bad” at appointments.
How common is dental anxiety?
If you experience dental anxiety, you are in good company. Dental anxiety is very common, affecting nearly 50% of Americans. About 12% of these have dental fear that’s so intense they can be considered to suffer from dental phobia. While dental anxiety is common, it doesn’t have to get in the way of your healthy, confident smile. Modern options exist to help you overcome dental anxiety.
How does dental anxiety affect your oral health?
Dental anxiety leads to dental avoidance, compounding your problems. When you avoid dental visits, minor issues can turn into significant problems, which require more complex treatments. Often, this creates a vicious cycle of anxiety, where each worsening condition reinforces your fear, making it even harder to return for care. The good thing is that seeking help from your dentist can help break this cycle of fear.
What can I do to cope with dental anxiety?
Start with small steps. Talk openly with your dentist. Remember, dentists are not mind-readers. They won’t know what you are going through until you speak up. When you talk to our team, we’ll provide practical steps to enhance your dental experience.
Other tips to keep yourself calm include scheduling morning appointments to avoid anticipation. Also, practice deep breathing and bring headphones or listen to music to keep yourself distracted.
How do dentists help with dental anxiety?
We listen first. Feel free to talk to us about your fears. We have created a calm, judgment-free space where you feel heard and supported. We also offer several sedation options to make your experience relaxing, even enjoyable.
Where can I find a dentist in Aliso Viejo, CA, who specializes in treating anxious patients?
If you have dental anxiety, just know you are not alone. As dentists, we encounter many patients who fear dental procedures. Fortunately, we have several ways to overcome your anxiety and help you enjoy dental again. Call (949) 289-9993 and discover relaxing dental care at Advanced Dental.
Dr. Chitra Tiruveedula
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Dr. Chitra Tiruveedula has been practicing dentistry for over 20 years. After advanced training at Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, she relocated to Orange County, CA in 2015. Dr. Chitra is a member of the American Dental Association and California Dental Association. Committed to continuous education, she provides top-quality dental services using the latest advancements.
Dr. Joseph C. Yang
Dr. Joseph C. Yang has over 30 years of dental practice experience. He earned his B.S. from Washington University in St. Louis, MO, and his D.D.S. from the University of Illinois, Chicago. He then had a distinguished 30-year career as a U.S. Naval Dental Officer, including a residency in Periodontology at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. Dr. Yang is a diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology and a member of the American Dental Association and American Academy of Periodontology. As a board-certified Periodontist, he has performed thousands of successful periodontal and implant procedures. He is also a renowned lecturer and trainer in the latest implant and periodontal techniques worldwide.