knowledge for peace of mind

Have you avoided essential oral care due to fear of the dentist?

Do you have trouble sleeping the night before a dental appointment because of anxiety? Therapeutic interventions might be what you need to overcome your anxiety.

what are therapeutic interventions?

These non-pharmaceutical treatments are designed to clear the cause of your anxiety and fear and allow you to take care of your teeth properly. These treatments are done with our in-house Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Elissa Silverman.

symptoms

signs you might need a therapeutic intervention…

 

There are many reasons patients suffer from dental fear or dental anxiety; these range from fear of pain, prior traumatic experiences and worries about being embarrassed or shamed. In fact, a significant amount of people who suffer from dental anxiety can trace their fear back to their childhood. Unfortunately, these worries can lead to an avoidance of regular dental check-ups that are vital to maintaining healthy teeth and gums. Without this routine care, serious complications can arise that require specialist dental care that may reinforce the patients fear of the dentist. 

We think the fear of going to the dentist is very real but can be minimized with the appropriate care. That is why we have an in-house expert who leads our patient comfort efforts. Elissa Silverman is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker trained to treat the cause of your dental anxiety without pharmaceutical intervention.

Would you like to know more about our approach? Please phone or email us–we are happy to provide more details of how we care for our patients.  

…you have trouble sleeping the night before a visit to the dentist

…you’ve put off much needed oral care due to your fear

…you have an emotional or physical response (like crying or feeling sick)  even thinking about an upcoming dental visit

…you feel like it’s difficult to breathe when you think of dental instruments being placed in your mouth

These are only a few of the challenges you might be experiencing, but there is no reason to feel embarrassed or hopeless about the situation. We recognize the symptoms and can help you.

therapeutic interventions

how emdr can help…

 

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR) is a phased approach designed for working with distressing or traumatic memories. The theory behind EMDR is that many psychological difficulties are the result of distressing life experiences that have not been stored in memory properly and are said to be unprocessed or blocked.

To facilitate the brain’s natural healing ability, EMDR uses a technique called bilateral simulation during which the therapist guides a client through alternating eye movements, tones, or taps in order to move a memory that has been incorrectly stored to a more functional part of the brain, thereby alleviating symptoms.

therapeutic interventions

how cognitive behavioral therapy can help…

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a form of talk therapy which can be used to treat people with a wide range of mental health problems. CBT is based on the idea that how we think (cognition), how we feel (emotion) and how we act (behavior) all interact together. CBT aims to help people become aware of when they make negative interpretations, and of behavioral patterns which reinforce the distorted thinking. This method helps people to develop alternative ways of thinking and behaving which helps to reduce psychological distress.

therapeutic interventions

how mindfulness can help…

 

Mindfulness, from a therapeutic perspective, is a conscious awareness of our present moment. This includes openness and non-judgment about the experience. Mindfulness therapy is not concerned
with relaxation, though that might be a result of certain practices. The focus is on increasing our awareness of the thoughts, feelings, and actions that hinder our progress. When we are better able to
do that, we can engage with those aspects of ourselves, learn to tweak our language, and choose how to respond. It is often coupled with other types of therapy, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
(CBT).

While you’re familiarizing yourself with our therapeutic treatments, make sure you also check out how we treat you during your appointment with a range of nice-to-have patient comforts.

 

Distraction Methods      –     Pain management 

therapeutic interventions

how relaxation techniques can help…

Relaxation techniques are strategies used to reduce stress and anxiety and manage the fight-or-flight response, that is frequently triggered among people with anxiety. These are often paired with other types of therapy and may include deep breath, guided imagery/visualization, progressive muscle relaxation and more.

therapeutic interventions

how hypnosis can help…

 

Hypnotherapy can be an effective method for coping with phobias and is often used in conjunction with other forms of treatment. Hypnosis can reduce stress and anxiety before a dental procedure. When under hypnosis, people feel calm and are more open to suggestions. Hypnosis can be used to help gain control over undesired behaviors or to better cope with anxiety or pain. It’s important to know that although you’re more open to suggestion during hypnosis, you don’t lose control over your behavior.

therapeutic interventions

how emotional freedom technique can help…

Tapping (or Emotional Freedom Technique) is similar to acupuncture in that it focuses on the meridian point –or energy hot spots – to restore balance to your body’s energy. It’s believed that restoring this energy balance can relieve symptoms a negative experience or emotion may have caused. EFT uses fingertip tapping to apply pressure to these energy points rather than needles.