Fear and the Dentist
You look at the calendar and flip the page to a new month. “Another month gone, and no visit to the dentist,” you think to yourself as you cringe. Flashbacks of dentist visits from when you were a child come rushing back to you, and you can hear the drill, feel your teeth being aggressively inspected with latex gloves, and smell the scent of fluoride mixed with mint-flavored floss.

For many people, a negative experience with a dentist can cause them not to schedule appointments, allowing for their dental health to remain unattended. This might be your experience. You might feel butterflies when the very word ‘dentist’ is mentioned, and you cannot recall the last time you made a dentist check-up a regular part of your year.

But, you are not alone. Dental phobias keep an estimated 50 percent of Americans away from the dental chair, and away from dental treatment. However, someone who understands dental fears is here for you, right here in the West Allis, Wisconsin area.

Dr. Monteagudo knows how you feel. He knows about your fears, but he also knows how to handle those fears so that your dental care can be maintained. And Dr. Monteagudo has the tools to make you more comfortable during your visit. What tools are those? You have to keep reading to find out how your fears can be reduced, and you can have the smile that you always wanted!

Comfort and the Dentist? Tell Me More.
You might not think that ‘comfort’ and ‘dentist’ are two words that belong in the same category. But if you come in and see Dr. Monteagudo, you will understand the pairing.

Dr. Monteagudo specializes in sedation dentistry. This dentistry allows for an oral sedative and nitrous oxide to be administered to you. While you take a nap, Dr. Monteagudo can clean and repair your teeth. You can relax completely and wake up at ease, with few to no memories about the office visit.

Sedation dentistry allows for you to be comfortable the entire time you are in the dentist’s chair. You also know that you are getting the very best care, and can walk out of the office with a beautiful smile. No more butterflies, no more missed appointments, no more toothaches that never go away. You have the opportunity to make your smile healthy in the calm environment of Monteagudo Center for Smile Designs. Make it happen today!

Other Ways to Kick the Dental Phobia
You can now see how sedation dentistry can be useful if you are apprehensive towards dental office visits, but there are other ways to make your visit more enjoyable as well.

1. Think positively- the second you start associating every aspect of the dentist with something bad, then the more butterflies you are going to have fluttering all around you. So try this quick tip out. Think of all of the fears that you have about the dentist, and try to categorize them in a more positive light. For example, if you hate the sound of a drill, then try to think of the positive uses of the tool and how it is helping eradicate tooth decay. By spinning everything from more scary into happier, you’ll be amazed how much better a tooth-cleaning can look.

2. What’s happening? – some poor associations of the dentist can be related to having no idea what is going on during a visit or procedure. Dr. Monteagudo makes sure that you understand each step of every cleaning or procedure. He can use the ‘tell-show-do’ technique, to illustrate every step of the process in multiple ways. First, Dr. Monteagudo will tell you what he is about to do. Then he can show you what the procedure will entail, using models or drawings. Finally, and only when you are ready, Dr. Monteagudo will complete the procedure. And that’s it! You have a beautiful smile in no time!

3. Ask and ask and ask…- if you are anxious about any aspect of your dental care, then you should not feel embarrassed or limited to asking any of your questions. We are here for you, to make sure that you get the best dental care, period. Even if you have not been in to see a dentist for years, we will make certain that you feel at home and can have those pearly whites too. So call us at 414.383.5833 or stop by! Because dental fears shouldn’t last a lifetime, but your smile should!

References
• Dental Fear Central. Common Dental Fears.
http://www.dentalfearcentral.org/fears/
• Monteagudo Center for Smile Designs. Sedation Dentistry.
http://www.wisconsinsmiles.com/sedation.html
• Save Your Smile. Conquer Your Fear of the Dentist. http://www.saveyoursmile.com/healtharticles/dzdentalanxiety.html
• Your Family’s Health. Overcome Your Fear of the Dentist. http://www.yourfamilyshealth.com/articles/fear_of_dentistry.html