Fear has no boundaries affecting all types of people. There are no sex, economic, or race discrimination guidelines. Research shows at least 30% or our population avoids going to the dentist due to fear. Our personal estimate is closer to 50% where anxiety is the culprit for avoiding needed care. With such a large segment of the population needing care but too afraid to seek us out, it is easy to see why a safe, non-judgmental, pain-free experience would be a welcome change for the anxiety-stricken patient. Oral Conscious Sedation (OCS) meets that incredible need. The Dentists who have made a commitment to learn the advanced technical skills required to practice OCS provide a solution for those needing this service putting them into a state of “twilight sleep” without rendering them actually unconscious. To be totally successful a dentist must learn more than just the technical skills. The certified OCS dentist must understand the emotional state as well. This involves understanding the state of a high-fear patient. This requires the dentist to actively listen to those who have avoided dentistry for years because of intense, realistic, palm-sweating, sick-to-the-stomach, eye-popping, and sleep depriving fear. It is a well-known fact that many people are often afraid to tell anyone about their fear, so they feel isolated. As dentists, we must be their “rock” in these situations
May 17, 2015