Local Dentist Helps Those With Dental Phobia


For those of you who put off going to the dentist because you suffer from dental anxiety, know that you are not alone.According to Colgate.com, approximately 30 million to 40 million Americans avoid regular dental care due to their fear of the dentist. 

Patch caught up with Dr. Kyle Edlund from Woodbury Dental Care to find out what minimal sedation dentistry is all about and how it helps those who suffer from dental phobia.

Woodbury Patch: What is minimal sedation dentistry?

Dr. Kyle Edlund: Minimal sedation dentistry is for those individuals who suffer from a high level of dental anxiety. A certain medication is used to completely relax the patient so they can get their dental work done without having to use general anesthesia.

Patch: So, a patient is not completely asleep in this type of sedation?

Edlund: No. Patients can still carry on a conversation and take direction from us like biting down or opening up. The medication has an amnesia-like effect on the patient in that they won’t remember anything about the dental procedure afterward.

Patch: At what point does the sedation process start for the patient?

Edlund: Good question. It starts the night before the appointment. The patient takes a small pill before they go to sleep. This helps them to relax and get a better night’s sleep. Patients who receive minimal sedation will need a driver to get them to and from the dentist, since the sedation process starts the night before the appointment.

Patch: What happens once the patient gets to the dental office? 

Edlund: Upon arriving at the office they receive another type of sedation that works very quickly. It’s a medicinal powder that goes under the tongue. Once it takes effect we hook the patient up to a pulse-ox-meter using a little device that we put on their finger. This is used to monitor their blood pressure and oxygen levels while we do the dental work. 

It’s also very important that a patient brings with them a complete list of all medications they are taking so we can cross reference those to make sure there’s no interference.

Patch: What’s the cost of minimal sedation dentistry?

Edlund: Sedation dentistry ranges between $400 to $600 per visit, plus their dental procedure. Patients typically choose to do several procedures during that appointment time like cleaning, extensive dental work that needs to be done, X-rays etc. I block a custom amount of time for minimal sedation dentistry to ensure that procedures that need to get done, get done.

Patch: Just how does dental phobia start?

Dr. Edlund: Dental phobia can be genetic, but most of the time it begins in childhood. A child has a bad experience at the dentist and then the fear grows from there.

Patch: How can a parent try to prevent dental phobia in a child?

Edlund: Avoid saying negative things like, “It won’t hurt” or “They won’t poke you with a shot.” Instead say positive things like, “At the dentist office, they’re going to teach you how to brush your teeth and count your teeth.”  

Sometimes I even hear parents threaten their kids with, “If you don’t brush your teeth, you’re going to get cavities and have to go to the dentist and get fillings.” All of these things can lay the foundation for dental phobia as the child gets older.

Patch: Does minimal sedation really help those with dental phobia?

Edlund: You bet! Typically patients with severe dental phobia haven’t been to a dentist in years. Not only do they have major dental issues, they also suffer health consequences due to the lack of professional dental care. Some individuals won’t even look for work because of how bad their teeth look. 

Minimal sedation dentistry gives these individuals the ability to now go to the dentist and get the proper dental care they need to keep them healthy. It can be a life changing experience for them.