Afraid of the Dentist?
The Good News and The Bad News
The truth is, nobody (including myself), enjoys having two (or sometimes three!) hands carrying sharp and potentially dangerous instruments around their mouths. Having any sort of dentistry work done on the teeth is just not fun. However, for the promise of future of good-looking teeth, free from toothaches, cavities, and disease, we have to submit ourselves to the discomfort of lying still for hours on end and straining our necks while allowing others to maneuver sharp instruments in our mouths. That was the bad news.
The good news is that Dr. Zadeh has invested in numerous modalities to make this experience as pleasant as possible, for even the most nervous of patients.
Sleep dentistry
Dr. Zadeh uses a combination of sedatives and narcotics in the form of pills and/or injections to make you comfortable during your visits. Depending on your preference, you drift off into a natural sleep with use of these medications. This protocol is available for most surgical procedures, and for any procedures that last for longer than 2 hours. In select individuals with severe phobias, Dr. Zadeh will consider using this protocol for shorter procedures.
Sleep dentistry is not general anesthesia, and you will be responsive throughout the procedure. This technique has proven to be very effective in alleviating the fear and discomfort associated with dental procedures. The combination of state of the art monitoring equipment, and our in-house licensed pharmacist, Fara, make this very technique extremely safe for all patients.
Iatrogenic Sedation
Dr. Zadeh learned this technique from Dr. Nathan Friedman, the creator of the method. From 1986 until 1991, Dr. Zadeh was a clinical assistant professor in the department of Human Behavior at the USC School of Dentistry, and was involved in teaching this very technique to the dental students there.
Through a series of systemic questioning and commitments, Dr. Zadeh can attempt to desensitize you to the issues you may have with receiving dental care. This method is a great option for those who have severe phobias that may affect them before sedatives can take their effect—such as in the days preceding a procedure, of while waiting in the office lobby.
Chair-Side Entertainment
Movies — We have gone all-out with this one. Every treatment room in our office has a DVD player and a VCR. We have hung flat panel monitors from the ceilings so that you can see your selected title while laying flat on your back while undergoing any of our procedures! The sound quality is great, as we provide you with wireless headphones. We have hundreds of DVD and VHS movies that you can choose from, or you can ever bring your own.
Calf Massager — Not only does a calf massage feel great, but it is a proven way to help relieve stress.
Warm Blankets — It is true that we keep the temperatures in the treatment room pretty low, as does any medical office. However, this does not mean that you should not be kept warm and comfortable. We have regular and electric blankets in every room for your convenience.
Supportive assistants — We are both proud and privileged to have Carla and Rosie as Dr. Zadeh’s assistants. They both have extensive training, and they truly care for the well-being of their patients. They will explain the procedures to the patients before Dr. Zadeh even enters the room, and they will stay with the patient to go over the instructions and answer any questions once the procedure is over.
We know that visiting the dentist for any reason, let alone a surgical procedure, can be uncomfortable at best, terrifying at worst. That is why we are committed to providing you with every option possible to keep you relaxed and comfortable. If there is anything else we can do to make you feel at ease, just let us know!
