Do you really need to go to the dentist? You brush daily, and you floss … most of the time.
Is your toothache that bad, really?
If you have dental anxiety, you may have had that conversation with yourself more than once. Feeling anxious, nervous, or fearful about dentists or dental treatments can be a real obstacle to maintaining your oral health.
You should also know that millions of Americans have some anxiety about oral care, including many who only go to the dentist when it is absolutely necessary.
At the office of George A. Hoop, DDS, we want to help change your perception of the dentist office. We strive to make our patients feel as comfortable and relaxed as possible. This makes it easier to get the preventive care you need so you can avoid the painful times when dental care is unavoidable.
We have offices in North Naples and Fort Myers, FL. Please call (239) 594-8817 if you have questions about our approach to patient comfort.
We’re Here to Listen
Mentally, you understand that dental professionals like Dr. Hoop and our team want you to have the healthiest mouth that you can. That may not make it any easier to schedule a dental cleaning, however.
We understand that your feelings are not a personal judgment on us, and we are not judging you for how you feel. We want to work with you to find a solution that allows you to get the care that you need.
A bad dental experience can affect you for months, years, even decades. Patients in their 70s, 80s, and 90s have told us how events from their childhood made it hard for them to visit any dentist office. At the same time, we are glad they came to see us when they did.
If you are fearful about sitting in a dentist chair, please let us know. If you have concerns about specific procedures (like root canals) or particular tools (such as drills or needles), we want to know that as well. One of the most important things we do is we listen to our patients. By learning the things that affect your anxiety, we can find ways to work around it.
Sedation Options
Dental sedation has a long history, and in modern dentistry, we have a great understanding of how this can benefit patients of all ages.
We offer both laughing gas (inhaled sedation) and oral sedation (medication) that can prevent you from feeling pain and help you remain calm throughout your visit. These options also can stop you from gagging if that is a concern, and some patients say they have little memory of their treatments using sedation.
At the same time, many patients started coming to us because of our sedation option, but no longer use it because of how relaxed they feel around us.
What Works for You?
We are confident that we can find an answer to that question by working with you. If you’re ready to learn more, call (239) 594-8817 or contact us online to reach either of Dr. Hoop’s offices.