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Have you ever heard the statement, “It’s like pulling teeth”? If you have, chances are something was being depicted as very unpleasant or difficult. So yeah, dentists can certainly get a bad rap and be associated with discomfort. The real question is: why?

For starters, dentists and dental work tend to be portrayed in not-so-flattering light on the silver screen & beyond. From the cult-classic rock-musical Little Shop of Horrors, to the root canal scene in the children’s tale, Finding Nemo, you’d be hard-pressed to find a feature film that didn’t portray dentists as a “bad” or scary person.

According to the American Psychological Association, almost half of American adults skip their dental appointments (or don’t schedule them at all) due to a fear of the chair. However, dental trauma alone doesn’t contribute to patient’s irrational fears; it’s that it stirs in them other, deeper fears of needles, seeing blood, or simply an invasion of one’s personal space.

While significant advances have been made in the overall comfort of dental work, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 36% of adults aged 18-64 haven’t scheduled a regular dental check-up in the past year. The numbers don’t lie; millions of Americans are avoiding getting the care they so desperately need.

With over 3,000 dental procedures under his belt, Dr. Ernie Soto of Cosmetic, Implant, & Sedation Dentistry of Plantation is on a mission to make the task of regular teeth cleanings – and even the most dreaded of oral procedures (injections, drilling and extractions) – a little less daunting.

Board certified in both anesthesiology and dentistry, Dr. Soto offers three reliable and affordable forms of sedation: nitrous oxide, oral sedation using pills, and IV sedation; although it is the latter that puts his patients into a completely Zen state rather swiftly – allowing him to knock out several extensive procedures in just one easy visit. He is proud to be one of a select few dentists in Florida to offer a treatment known as “Sleep Dentistry.”

If dentists with dollar signs in their eyes have caused you to neglect your oral care, you’re not alone. According to the American Dental Association and the California Dental Association Journal, financial barriers cause 1 in 5 Americans to forego dental care. Fear not; Dr. Soto offers simple dental financing for sedation, and will turn your dream of flaunting pearly whites into a reality.

If you have cracked or chipped teeth, are putting off a root canal due to fear & anxiety, or are suffering from gum problems such as gingivitis, you are among the top candidates for pain-free IV sedation. According to Dr. Soto, being sedated via IV is as easy as drifting off into a happy dreamland – an idea that makes even the most stringent dentist naysayer rethink their position. In fact, patients won’t remember the treatment or suffer discomfort, a promise that site-specific injections just can’t live up to. A one-stop shop, Soto’s office also offers pre- and post-surgery treatments such as IV Vitamin Therapy, a drip method that provides necessary vitamins and minerals to help patients heal faster.

Still wondering if full IV sedation is right for you? Patients with sensitive teeth, a strong gag reflex, a fear of injections, or simply have limited time to spend in the chair, may all be good candidates for this procedure. Performed under the supervision of a trained dentist, it is proven to be completely safe as long as the patient is in good overall health prior to the services. According to WebMD and the US National Library of Medicine, patients who are obese or suffer from sleep apnea may want to consider other methods of sedation.

If you’re delaying dental work due to fear, take the bit between your teeth and conquer your phobias with IV sedation, or “sleep dentistry.” You may discover that the word dentist doesn’t have to leave a bad taste in your mouth. Call (954) 368-6264 today, or schedule an appointment online.