Dental Psychology

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  • Home
  • Dental Anxiety
    • Introduction
    • Core Resources
    • Entering the Surgery
    • Injections
    • Oral Examination
    • Treatments
  • Chronic Pain
    • Introduction
    • Burning Mouth Syndrome
    • More Than A Mouth
  • Prehabilitation
  • Training
    • What we offer
    • Resources for Therapists
  • Padlet
  • Stress management
  • Behaviour Change
  • More About...
  • More
    • Home
    • Dental Anxiety
      • Introduction
      • Core Resources
      • Entering the Surgery
      • Injections
      • Oral Examination
      • Treatments
    • Chronic Pain
      • Introduction
      • Burning Mouth Syndrome
      • More Than A Mouth
    • Prehabilitation
    • Training
      • What we offer
      • Resources for Therapists
    • Padlet
    • Stress management
    • Behaviour Change
    • More About...

Dental Psychology

Dental PsychologyDental PsychologyDental Psychology

Signed in as:

filler@godaddy.com

  • Home
  • Dental Anxiety
    • Introduction
    • Core Resources
    • Entering the Surgery
    • Injections
    • Oral Examination
    • Treatments
  • Chronic Pain
    • Introduction
    • Burning Mouth Syndrome
    • More Than A Mouth
  • Prehabilitation
  • Training
    • What we offer
    • Resources for Therapists
  • Padlet
  • Stress management
  • Behaviour Change
  • More About...

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Treatments

Once your dentist has completed an examination, they may recommend treatment and/or cleaning to improve or maintain your oral health. 


This section contains information about common dental treatments, including the equipment that may be used and what you can expect during the procedure. You can work through the information at your own pace and revisit any section as often as you wish.


Many people find that the sounds of dental treatment can increase their anxiety. Growing accustomed to the sounds by repeated listening may not mean that you come to like the sounds, but it can make them less anxiety producing. We have recorded several of the sounds you will commonly hear while undergoing treatment. The sounds are:

  • The high speed handpiece (sometimes called the drill)
  • The low speed handpiece (sometimes called the drill)
  • The big suction (known as 'High volume' suction)
  • The small suction (known as 'The Suction tip')
  • The sonic scaler (used by the dental team to clean material off your teeth that has got stuck on)


Try listening to the sounds of dental treatment often in order to grow accustomed to them in preparation for your trip to the dentist.

Suction device (saliva ejector)

This small tube is used during oral examination procedures to remove excess water and saliva from your mouth, helping to alleviate dental anxiety treatment. It keeps the area clear so the dentist can see properly. You may notice a mild pulling or tickling sensation as it moves around your mouth, a common experience with injection techniques.

Audio: Suction

High Volume Suction Audio

Suction Tip Audio

Air/Water Syringe

This tool releases a small stream of air, water, or a combination of both to help clean and dry areas inside your mouth, particularly useful during oral examination procedures. You may feel a cool sensation or a gentle spray of water, which is often employed as a part of dental anxiety treatment to ease discomfort. It is commonly used throughout routine check-ups and is not painful.

Scaler

This tool is essential for removing plaque and tartar from your teeth and around the gum line, contributing significantly to dental anxiety treatment during your oral examination procedures. 


During treatment, you may feel pressure as the scaler moves across your teeth. If an ultrasonic scaler is being utilized, you may also hear a high-pitched buzzing sound and feel a spray of water due to the injection techniques used to enhance the cleaning process. 


The scaler plays a crucial role in keeping your teeth and gums healthy by eliminating deposits that brushing alone cannot address. 


If you start to feel uncomfortable at any moment, remember that you can use your STOP signal to ask the dental team to pause.

Comprehensive Dental Treatments

Handpiece

The dental team doesn’t refer to the tool as a 'drill'; they prefer the term 'handpiece'. Both terms refer to the same instrument used in various treatments, particularly during filling procedures or oral examination procedures, such as teeth cleaning. The high-speed handpiece creates a high-pitched sound due to its rapid rotation. 


To manage dental anxiety, you can listen to this sound in brief intervals, gradually increasing the duration as you become more comfortable. Aim to reach about one minute, but take your time. Regular practice, ideally every day, can significantly aid in your dental anxiety treatment. Additionally, understanding injection techniques and their purpose can be beneficial to alleviating some of that anxiety.

Handpiece Accessories

Diamond dental burs set on a wooden surface.

Bur

A dental bur is a tiny attachment that fits onto the handpiece, playing a crucial role in various oral examination procedures. Different types of burs are utilized for specific contexts, such as in dental anxiety treatment to help alleviate concerns about procedures like removing decay or shaping a tooth. During treatment, you may hear the sound of the drill and feel gentle vibrations as the bur operates, often accompanied by effective injection techniques to ensure your comfort.

Dental polishing brush with pink bristles.

Polishing Cup

This soft rubber cup attaches to a dental handpiece and is a key tool used during oral examination procedures. It works with a special polishing paste to clean and polish the surface of the teeth, effectively helping to remove stains and leaving the teeth feeling smooth. While undergoing the dental anxiety treatment, you may feel gentle pressure and vibrations as the polishing cup moves across your teeth, ensuring a comfortable experience despite potential anxieties.

Audio: Handpiece

Slow Speed Handpiece Audio

High Speed Handpiece Audio

Video: Common Dental Treatments

Having a filling

Dental cleaning and polishing

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