patient comfort

creating a space that makes you feel comfortable

 

patient comfort

offering a custom experience

 

You know the importance of taking care of your teeth but for some a trip to the dentist is a chore while others can find it downright stressful. There is no one-size fits all solution to dental anxiety so we have introduced a suite of comforts to ensure your time in the chair is as peaceful as possible. These range from nice-to-have distraction methods, which make your time in the chair a more pleasant experience, to need-to-have treatments for those suffering from dental anxiety or other mental health conditions. Read on to see more about how we care for your mental wellbeing as well as your teeth.

 

pain management

 

painless injections in 1–2–3

Worries about pain shouldn’t stop you from taking care of yourself. Leaving your mouth untreated will lead to bigger problems later. We not only mitigate pain through anesthetics, but we even make the process of the numbing agent a more comfortable experience. We use a painless oral injection system called DentalVibe. Studies found 94% of patients felt injections with DentalVibe were less painful than injections without the use of vibration.

 

topical anesthetic

We start with the strongest topical anesthetic to reduce the chance of feeling anything during the numbing injections.

Painless oral injection

We utilize a painless oral injection system, DentalVibe®, to reduce any discomfort during the numbing process. DentalVibe provides gentle vibration to the site of the dental injection. This overloads the nerve that sends pain signals to the brain so you don’t feel the injection. 

 

Did you do it yet?

Most patients who have a DentalVibe injection aren’t even aware they’ve had an injection! The vibrations disperse the anesthesia once it’s injected to allow it to get to work even faster…plus the sound of the vibration creates an added distraction!

 

 

laughing gas

We also offer nitrous oxide, sometimes called laughing gas, to reduce any anxiety you might be having about your treatment. This is a safe and effective sedative agent that helps make you more comfortable during certain procedures. Visit our treatment page to learn more.

patient comforts

distraction methods

Have you caught yourself wishing for a weighted blanket in the middle of the day? Or some time to listen to a podcast? We get it…we offer lots of nice distractions so that you leave the office with restored teeth and a sense of peace within yourself.

ceiling mounted TVs

Lay back and watch your favorite Netflix shows on our ceiling mounted Smart TVs…

noise canceling headphones

Use our noise canceling headphones (with disposable sanitary coverings) to listen to your favorite music, relaxing sounds, podcasts or while watching Netflix on our ceiling mounted TVs.

stress ball

Squeeze away tension and keep restless hands busy.

bilateral stimulation wristbands

These wristbands give the user a gentle, alternating vibration that affects the brain and alters the body’s stress response to restore calm.

aromatherapy/essential oils

An anti-dental anxiety essential oil blend that calms nerves.

weighted blanket or sleep mask

The gentle pressure of the blanket or mask is shown to increase the body’s production of both melatonin and serotonin, which give a calming sensation.

Is your anxiety or depression getting in the way of your dental care? Have you suffered from pain because you’ve avoided preventative care? We can help.

 

Regardless of how long it’s been since you last visited a dentist, you will never be shamed or judged at Peace of Mind Dental Studio. Our team wants you to feel comfortable and calm. We’ll do everything in our power to ensure your experience is positive.

dental anxiety

 

Are you afraid of the dentist? You are not alone.

Fear of the dentist is a common healthcare related anxiety. Your feelings are valid and aren’t unusual.

%

suffer from dental anxiety

Research suggests that anywhere from 50-80% of adults in the United States have some degree of dental anxiety ranging from mild to severe.

%

do not have regular dental care

More than 20% of dentally anxious patients do not see a dentist regularly, and 9-15% of anxious patients avoid care altogether. 

dental anxiety

more than just discomfort

  

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. 

 

 

 

have you noticed

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

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

…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?

…you have a very high level of anxiety when you hear a dental drill sound?

…you’ve had this fear for a long time, ever since you had a difficult experience with a dentist as a child?

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.

patient comforts

therapeutic interventions

Sometimes we all need a little more help. Enter our non-pharmaceutical interventions designed to clear the cause of your anxiety and fear and allow you to take care of your teeth properly.

emdr

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.

cognitive behavioural therapy

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.

mindfulness

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).

relaxation techniques

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.

hypnosis

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.

eft tapping

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.

You don’t have to hide your fear.

The more we understand about you the better we are able to prepare a positive treatment experience for you. In fact, part of new patient process includes a short questionnaire that will help us learn more about your concerns.

Tips & advice from Dr. Silverman:

Do distractions in the dental chair cause you more anxiety?

“I don’t like distraction while in the dental chair, it just makes me more uneasy.” It is absolutely okay to feel this way, just please let us know and we will make sure to limit our patient comforts that are particularly distracting.  Some patients do not prefer to wear noise canceling headphones or have the ceiling mounted TVs on during treatment .  We want you to be comfortable and are here to accommodate to your preferences.

For more advice, visit our faq page