Overcoming Dental Anxiety

A dental visit can be a highly emotional experience. Often, it is our first experience in the dentist chair that shapes our attitudes towards the dental profession, dental treatment and even our own dental health. Can you recall your first dental visit? Was it a pleasant one, or was is traumatic?

Whether our fear of the dentist is deep-rooted in our earliest experiences or in our overall psychological make-up, the essential step to recovery is to break the cycle of trauma associated with dental visits.

If you wait to see a dentist until you have a toothache, you run the risk of facing a root canal treatment or an extraction. If you never see the same dentist twice, you do not give yourself a chance to develop a trusting relationship before you require any major dental work. The unfamiliarity of seeing a new dentist when you have a toothache is often more uncomfortable and worrying than the treatment itself.

If you see a dentist regularly for check-ups and cleanings, and give yourself time to get to know the person treating you, you will feel more comfortable in the dentist’s hands. You may not come into the office skipping with joy, but you will slowly get used to the idea of receiving regular dental care (and avoid toothaches and major dental work).

I often see anxious patients, and can offer guidance to make your dental visit a more comfortable one. The most important thing to consider is that, as a healthcare professional, my number one priority is your well-being. My dental team takes your health into our hands and we achieve this through education, continuous support and reassurance. We walk you through all the steps, take our time, and ease you into a routine where all you’ll need from us is a six month check-up and cleaning.

To learn more about overcoming dental anxiety or to schedule your first dental visit, please visit Dr. Josh Berd at www.JoshTheDentist.com

A NEW YEAR, A NEW SMILE

Dr. Josh Berd, San Francisco’s Cosmetic Dentist talks about using porcelain veneers, his own artistic eye and a personalized approach to dental care to transform a smile.

Have you ever seen a business woman walking to her penthouse office downtown in a perfectly fitted Dior suit, Louboutin shoes, Cartier watch…and gapped teeth? This woman puts immense emphasis on looks, but overlooks the one thing people see first – her teeth! It has been noted that in today’s culture, the appearance of your teeth and oral hygiene indicate your overall health, self-esteem and even status.

In the world of dentistry however, Veneers are mostly done for purely cosmetic reasons – they are an elective treatment. To most people that ask me if they need veneers, as a doctor, my answer is “No.” The reason for veneers is that you yourself don’t like how things look. In this particular case, the woman was unhappy with the diastima (large gap) between her central teeth and wished to have Veneers placed. Let me take you through the Four Step process…

First Dental Visit: Consultation

This is actually the longest of the four visits; it is the consultation that may require the most time since addressing the patient’s concerns and wishes are highly personalized. This visit also includes taking impressions, radiographic images and photos of the teeth to analyze the health and appearance of the smile. Next, I use the information gathered to work closely with a professional lab technician designing Veneers with the appropriate shape, size and color.

Second Dental Visit: Temporary Veneers Fitted

The patient’s teeth are minimally shaped and temporary Veneers are fitted. This step allows for adjustments to be made and for the patient to ‘test drive’ their new smile. Any revisions of the temp Veneers are incorporated into creating the final Veneers.

Third Dental Visit: Permanent Veneers Fitted

During this exciting visit, the final Veneers are placed and the patient walks out with a new smile.

Fourth Dental Visit: Follow-up

This appointment is for the finishing touches, including slight re-contouring, adjustments in bite, and photos of the brand new smile.

Feel free to contact Dr. Berd with questions regarding this procedure. www.joshthedentist.com

Note: During the consultation the patient is also informed that Veneers are a non-reversible procedure, they need to be maintained like regular teeth to remain free of cavities, and that the wearing of a Nightguard is highly recommended to safeguard and ensure the longevity of the porcelain.