Dr. John Vitale understands that patients may be nervous and somewhat fearful of dental procedures so he gets to know his patients and builds trust to ensure their comfort while in the dental chair. Local anesthetic, topical anesthetic, IV sedation and other medications can be used for a pain free experience.
For people with dental anxiety, is it pain that they are afraid of or is it another issue?
Dr. John Vitale: Well, it’s a combination of different things. Generally, it can be from a previous bad experience from childhood or early life. For some people, it’s fear of the unknown. For those people who have never had dental treatment before and we do have a substantial number of those. Lastly, it’s personality makeup. Some people, high anxiety, low pain threshold, combination of different things, all contribute to anxiety in the dental chair.
If people don’t take care of their teeth and gums can a cleaning be painful?
Dr. John Vitale: Yes. It could be uncomfortable if the gums are infected. In cases like these, a local anesthetic or a topical anesthetic would be used to alleviate any discomfort.
What are the different forms of sedation or pain relief available to patients?
Dr. John Vitale: Well, we have local anesthetic or a topical anesthetic. We have anti-anxiety drugs such as Valium or Xanax to name a couple. We have IV sedation in more severe cases along with general anesthesia in a hospital environment. There are multitudes of different avenues that one can travel to ensure pain free dentistry.
How has new technology and equipment made dental care more pain free?
Dr. John Vitale: Well, new technology has made dentistry much more efficient, much faster, and exacting. The use of modern local anesthetics have made dentistry totally pain free.
Are there other ways to create a calming and relaxing dental experience for a patient?
Dr. John Vitale: I think one of the most important things is proper chairside manner and getting to know your patient. Very very important. Developing a trust is totally essential when dealing with people.
Learn More
Visit www.drjohnrvitale.com or call 201-521-9800 to schedule an appointment.
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