How pain free dentistry has changed the dental experience

For many people, an appointment with the dentist is often accompanied by a feeling of dread. This often illogical, but still valid, fear can stem from a range of reasons. These can include a previous negative experience, a less than ideal client-dentist relationship, or the perception that a visit to the dentist is going to hurt.

While there used to be a time when dentists earned a bad reputation for their methods, thankfully this has changed in recent times. With the development of pain-free dentistry, going to the dentist has never been easier or stressless.

What Is pain-free dentistry?

Dentistry has come a long way in the past few decades. While painless dental treatments may seem like a myth, here at the Hamilton Dental Centre, we can assure you they not only exist, but are practiced by our friendly team.

There are a number of methods practiced all over the world to achieve pain-free dentistry. The first is the use of nitrous oxide – more commonly referred to as laughing gas. It is mainly used to help patients relax and to control pain. It is administered via inhalation and is safe for both children and adults.

Laser treatments are also becoming increasingly common in the pursuit of pain-free dentistry. They are generally used for gum surgeries or other soft tissue procedures. Patients that have laser treatments experience less pain and discomfort during and after the procedure compared with those who didn’t.

Micro-Fine needles and sedation are a third option for pain-free dentistry. While your instincts may cause you to cringe at the thought of needles, microfine needles are specially designed to cause the least amount of pain or discomfort possible.

Here at the Hamilton Dental Centre, we utilise most accepted pain-free dentistry methods:

The use of anaesthetic gel

A topical anaesthetic gel is a local anaesthetic used to numb a specific, small area of your body. In the case of dentistry, it is applied to your gums before injections. This helps ease the initial sting of the needle before the injected local anaesthetic starts working.

Prescription of mild oral sedatives

A mild oral sedative is a popular option for patients wanting a pain-free dental experience. The exact application differs from patient to patient. It often involves the patient taking a prescribed sedative in the form of a pill or liquid in the hours leading up to the procedure.

One of the key benefits of this method is that it is easy to administer. It doesn’t involve needles, which is perfect for those with a needle phobia.

While you may feel drowsy after taking the sedative, you remain awake for the procedure. This means you can still listen to and interact with your dentist throughout. Finally, all prescribed oral sedation is Medsafe approved. This means it has been subjected to rigorous testing and is safe to use.

Injection of local anaesthetic

The team here at Hamilton Dental Centre generally uses Lidocaine as a local anaesthetic. Once injected into the gum, it causes loss of feeling and eliminates pain during procedures. The numbness can last from 30 minutes to three hours, depending on the dose.

Use of Entonox gas

Entonox is the brand name for nitrous oxide, otherwise known as laughing gas. The use of laughing gas during a procedure is less common but it can be very effective if a patient has anxiety or a low pain tolerance.

A prescription for pain medication following the procedure

Having a dental procedure can be a significant experience for patients. The thought of pain alone is often a common reason for people postponing their visit to the dentist. Even if urgent attention is needed, people worry about the potential pain of the treatment. Unfortunately, this delay can often make the problem worse. This generally means patients need a bigger dental procedure than if they’d addressed it promptly.

Our dentists do their very best to ensure you have the best possible experience while in our care and after your dental procedure. That’s why we often prescribe pain medication for patients who may need it following a procedure. This gives our patients peace of mind that their pain will continue to be managed in the days following their procedure.

How Hamilton Dental Centre can help with pain-free dentistry

As you can read, the team here at Hamilton Dental Centre have excellent measures in place to offer the most pain-free dental service possible. If you are outside the Hamilton region, simply google ‘pain-free dentist near me’ to find a clinic that will suit your needs.

We are proud of our ethos of care and treat each patient as an individual. Both Dr Dave and Dr Bashar take pride in reducing anxiety, keeping patients relaxed, and making sure everyone leaves with a smile.

If you, or the person you are supporting, has had a bad experience at the dentist don’t hesitate to let our staff know. We will do everything we can to replace any negative associations with much more positive ones!

If pain – or the thought of it – has been holding you back, book an appointment today and ask about our pain-free dentistry methods.

Book an appointment online or call us on 07 854 8905.