My doctor prescribes me Xanax for situational anxiety. I’ve used it at least once a week and it’s been extremely helpful. I’m thinking it may be just the thing to help me get back to the dentist. I’ve avoided the dentist for years and now have started developing some pain in one (maybe more) of my teeth. Can I take Xanax before a dental appointment?
Lori
Dear Lori,
It’s brave of you to try to find a way back to your dentist given your anxiety. So you know, you’re not alone in your nervous feelings when it comes to dental work. Many patients feel the same way. Often it stems from a traumatic experience with a dentist in their younger years.
While it would be possible for you to take Xanax before your appointment, I have a better solution for you. The main reason I’m suggesting an alternative is there’s a possibility the Xanax could interfere with something the dentist needs to give you.
Because you’re already in pain from a tooth, I want to make sure you won’t have to put off your treatment because of a medication issue.
Solutions for Dental Anxiety
There are dentists who cater to fearful patients. Dr. Dennis is one of those dentists. She loves helping people have positive experiences at the dentist in order to change the way they view the dentist. She does that through gentle care, explaining every aspect of the procedure, and (for her more anxious patients) dental sedation.
In some cases, anxiety can be so high that it causes patients to burn off any numbing medication, essentially rendering it completely ineffective.
When that’s an issue, sedation is a miracle worker. You’re completely relaxed from a simple pill. The upside is the dentist, knowing what sedation medication he or she uses ahead of time will not have to worry about anything being contraindicative.
You will find it makes having a dental appointment much easier. In fact, most patients simply sleep through their procedure.
Don’t Put off Getting Dental Pain Treated
One thing you don’t want to do is wait any longer to deal with this. When you have tooth pain, it often indicates a tooth infection. When this isn’t dealt with, it can quickly turn into a dental emergency. Then, instead of a simple procedure, you’ll be facing something much more invasive and expensive. In some cases, it’s even too late to save the tooth. Then you’re looking at tooth replacement options.
This blog is brought to you by Dr. Susan Dennis. Some of her patients consider her the best dentist in the Kalamazoo area.