2 - 2021 - Dr. Johannes Yap - Cosmetic Dentist Innaloo WA, 6018

Month: February 2021

Overcoming Fear of the Dentist

Written by Smile Docs on 19 February 2021. Posted in General Dentistry.

A little bit of apprehension is normal before going to see the dentist, but if your fear or anxiety affects your oral health and is preventing you from setting up an appointment, you’re not alone. Around 5-10% of Ozzies completely avoid seeing a dentist out of fear, while 20% are worried enough that they will only seek dental treatment only when absolutely necessary.

Being scared of the dentist is usually down to:

Loss of control. Some patients feel like they have no control when lying down on a dental chair while the dentist hovers above their heads and probes inside their mouths.
Pain. Fear of pain is very common, especially those who have a low pain threshold.
Embarrassment. Many people feel ashamed or embarrassed of their smile due to previous trauma or oral issues. It’s bad enough when a friend or coworker notices, but a dentist will see everything!
Past experience. Some patients have had a previous bad experience. Maybe there were complications, or unexpected treatments, or maybe their dentist was not the right fit for them.

Overcoming Dental Fears

Here are some tips to help you get over any anxiety.

Technology

The technology and procedures for treatment is a lot more advanced compared to a few years back. We even have options to reduce any pain to an absolute minimum. Horror stories you heard from your parents are things of the past. Dr. Yap‘s goal is to help you keep your teeth in the best shape possible, so it’s in all our best interests to ensure you get the treatment you need in a safe and comfortable manner.

Recognize Your Fears and Talk With a Dentist

To better understand your feelings and address them, you need to come into terms with your anxiety or fear of going to the dentist. Write your fears down, so that you can talk about them better. Listing your fears will not just help you recognize them, but also aid your dentist in explaining what’s causing your anxiety or phobia and helping you deal with it.

The foundation of any good doctor-patient relationship is communication. Before you set an appointment for treatment, come in and sit down with Dr. Yap. Talk about your apprehensions, fears, and anxiety. We’ll be able to better understand your situation and tailor an action plan best suited for your needs. It’s quite common across adults, so we’ll come up with cues and signals if you want to take breaks or stop the treatment if you get uncomfortable.

Relaxation Techniques

Relaxation exercises can help you stay calm during treatment. One of the ways you can relax is through controlled breathing, which involves taking a big breath and letting it out very slowly. This will help relax your muscle and slow your heartbeat. Often a weighted blanket will help to reduce stress.

Distractions

Distractions can help focus your attention on other things besides your treatment. Some of the ways to take your mind off the procedure are watching TV, listening to music, using a stress ball.

Bring a Friend

Having someone like a friend or family member with you during the visit can offer an extra layer of support and assurance. Bring someone along who doesn’t have any fears about going to the dentists. Morning appointments are better so you won’t find yourself worrying about what might happen all day long.

Sedation Dentistry

Sedation is offered to keep you calm and relaxed during treatment. Some sedatives include local anaesthetic, happy gas, and oral or IV sedation. You can discuss these options with our dentist before any appointments.

A visit to the dentist is not as bad as you think, because its goal is to keep your oral health in the best possible condition. Call Dr. Yap‘s office, speak with one of our friendly staff and schedule a free consultation.

Dental Emergency – Crown or bridge has fallen out

Written by Smile Docs on 1 February 2021. Posted in emergency dental service.

Having a dental emergency? Most dental emergencies are nowhere near the severity of other medical emergencies.

In most cases, it’s the potential of extreme pain that is the issue, not health. You should still call your dentist right away.

In this article, we’ll address the issue of what to do if you are in pain because a crown or bridge came loose and fell off. You’re going to want to call in to our office ASAP; in the meantime, here’s what you can do:

Why Did the Crown or Bridge Come Loose?

The crown or bridge has fallen out because the cement used to glue it in just gave up on you. This is not considered an emergency but you need to do your best to temporarily glue it back in. If you leave it out of your mouth tooth long, it is likely not going to fit back in.
The other scenario is that the tooth has broken, this is not an easy fix.
Rule of thumb, if you can put it back in then its likely the glue, if you can’t then your tooth could be broken.

What to Do

Don’t panic! If you’re not in pain, that buys you some time. If the crown or bridge has just come off and you can put it back on. You can go to the pharmacy and buy a temporary dental cement from your local pharmacy. If that fails and you cannot find it, some patients give good feedback on Polident denture adhesives as a good short-term solution to temporarily glue the crown in till you see a dentist.
Call your dentist. The more info you give them over the phone, the better. You could say to them something like, “the crown came off, its not sore and I can put it back on”. Better yet, email or text a photo! This will help you know what treatment is expected.

With most dental emergencies, severe pain may be a factor. If you can’t manage the pain without painkillers you might consider Panadol and/or ibuprofen – but only if you have no previous allergies or medications that can interact with these painkillers. You can check with your GP and pharmacy but these two painkillers are the most commonly used to curb dental pain. Codeine or tramadol can be added in extreme cases but you will need a prescription for this.

We are living in a unique time where we are all isolated from one another. The last thing we want our patients to do is live with pain or infection during this time. This is why we are one of the few dental clinics that has remained open to service dental emergencies. We know what to do and how to handle a dental emergency. If you have a dental emergency, please do not hesitate to contact us, we are here to give you guidance and support.

How to Get to the Odin House Dental Surgery Dental Clinic

Dr. Johannes Yap is a general and cosmetic dentist who works at a local dental clinic in Innaloo, which is a suburb north west of Perth. The dental office is conveniently located near the intersection of Scarborough Beach Rd/State Route 75 and Odin Rd/State Route 64, and is close by the local suburbs of Stirling, Scarborough, Karrinyup, Osbourne Park, Yokine, Floreat, Subiaco, Wembley and Inglewood as well as local attractions such as Jackadder Lake Reserve and Stirling Civic Gardens.