If you have claustrophobia, you avoid cave exploration. If you have acrophobia (fear of heights), you avoid sky diving. In either case, you can live a fulfilling life without joining in these activities. At Turlock Dental Care, we help you overcome your dental anxiety.

What if you have dentophobia or a fear of the dentist? (Yes, it’s a real thing with an official name.) This is different than the phobias mentioned previously. Since dental visits are vital for a healthy smile, it’s not a smart move to simply avoid dental treatment.

Yet many individuals try to do just that. That is, until they have a problem that gets so painful they are impelled to white knuckle it through a dental visit. At that point, the treatment may be an extraction that could have been prevented with earlier intervention or preventative treatments.

If you are plagued with severe anxiety when undergoing dental treatment, oral sedation is for you. Whether it is called relaxation dentistry, oral conscious sedation, sleep dentistry, or anxiety-free dentistry, it has proven to be safe and effective.

Dentophobia is complex and may be accompanied by any of the following:

• Teeth sensitivity
• Fear of needles
• A strong gag reflex
• Difficulty in controlling body movement
• Difficulty becoming numb with standard injections

With oral conscious sedation, dentistry patients can relax or even sleep through dental treatment.

You select the degree of sedation necessary:

• Mild sedation: relaxes you while you remain conscious.
• Moderate sedation: provides a deeper level of relaxation with partial consciousness.
• Deep sedation: you are almost completely unconscious but can be awakened.
• General anesthesia: This sends you to dreamland from which you awake after it’s over with no memory of the procedure.

For more information on oral sedation dentistry, contact us at 209-667-7889.

Contact Turlock Dental Care:

209-667-7889

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

3131 Colorado Ave Turlock, California 95382

There are numerous misconceptions about sleep dentistry. At Turlock Dental Care, we specialize in safe sedation. Let’s set the record straight about an important dental service.

Myth #1: With Sedation Dentistry, You Are Completely Unconscious

Some apprehensive dental patients are not only afraid of receiving treatment; they also fear the thought of not being in control. At Turlock Dental Care, we offer different levels of sedation, but none of the sedation options put you completely to sleep. With oral sedation you are relaxed but not totally knocked out. When we need to ask a dental sedation patient a question during the treatment, the patient is able to hear, understand, and respond.

Myth #2: Dental Sedation Should Only Be Used For Extensive Dental Treatment

Anxiety-free dentistry is completely safe. Many nervous oral conscious sedation patients request sedation for routine exams and procedures.

Myth #3: Most Dental Insurance Companies Do Not Cover Sleep Dentistry

Some California dental insurers do cover sedation. Check with your insurer for details about your California dental insurance benefits.

Myth #4: Sleep Dentistry Is Still Experimental

Dentists have been safely providing sedation for many years. Turlock Dental Care meets all the requirements advised by the American Dental Association. Millions of Americans and thousands of uneasy dental patients have safely received sedation for dental treatment.

Dental visits can be extremely stressful and for some Turlock residents, the fear and anxiety associated with a trip to the dentist prevents them from getting the care they need. At Turlock Dental Care we provide the best oral sedation dentistry available. We will accommodate your needs with minimal, moderate, or deep sedation.

For more specifics about anxiety-free dentistry, contact Turlock Dental Care at https://www.turlockdentalcare.com/ or 209-667-7889 today to schedule a sedation consultation.

Contact Turlock Dental Care:

209-667-7889

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

3131 Colorado Ave Turlock, California 95382

Hello San Jose area dental blog visitors, welcome to the Turlock Dental Care blog. I am Doctor Robert McCulla of Turlock Dental Care in Turlock.

A close friend of mine recently expressed fears about her upcoming root canal. She was anxious about the pain she might experience and worried about getting work off for the multiple office visits to complete the procedure. I assured her that painful root canal procedures are a thing of the past with modern dentistry.

With the latest technology and anesthetics, a root canal (endodontic treatment) is no more painful than receiving a filling. Most root canals can be completed in one or two office visits.

If you have been neglecting your teeth because of fears or concerns about a particular procedure and have not been to your Turlock dentist recently, I encourage you to schedule an exam, cleaning, and consultation today.

We are accepting new patients at Turlock Dental Care and would love to serve you. At Turlock Dental Care, we offer cosmetic dentistry, emergency dentistry, and family dentistry.

Contact Turlock Dental Care:

209-667-7889

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

990 Delbon Ave
Turlock, California
95382

At Turlock Dental Care, we make a conscious effort to help our patients feel comfortable. Though our chairs are cushy as can be, we are not only talking about physical comfort here. We are talking about emotional comfort. In other words, peace of mind.

Here are four ways we are passionate about your peace of mind at Turlock Dental Care in Turlock:

1. We don’t judge you. Doctor Robert McCulla has devoted a professional career to promoting oral health and creating beautiful smiles.

The considerate dental team at Turlock Dental Care is here to help you, regardless of the state of your teeth. We have treated patients with severe tooth neglect, advanced gum disease, enamel erosion caused by eating disorders, tooth damage caused by illegal drug use, baby bottle tooth decay, tobacco-stained teeth: basically, every imaginable dental dilemma. We don’t live in a bubble. We understand and empathize with our patients.

2. We protect you from pain. From topical analgesics to oral conscious sedation, we will eliminate or minimize pain as best we can.

3. We help you with your dental anxiety. Fear of the dentist is far more widespread than you might realize and certainly nothing to be ashamed of. The perceived loss of control, instruments poking in your mouth, and teeth being worked on are not pleasant. Some people get claustrophobic because they need to lie still in the chair for treatment.

Sleep dentistry (oral conscious sedation) not only helps with pain management, it allows you to sleep through your appointment. There are different levels of sedation, so you don’t have to be completely unconscious unless you want to be. We can talk about the different levels of oral conscious sedation so you can decide on the one that is best for you.

4. We communicate with you. doctor McCulla has established a reputation as an effective and caring communicator. Procedures are thoroughly explained and all your important questions will be answered before treatment. If you are not sure you want to initiate treatment, we are happy to let you think about it for a while. There is no rush.

If you have postponed dental treatment for any reason, we encourage you to give our team at Turlock Dental Care a try. Neglecting your oral health has serious consequences. Call today to schedule an appointment. We look forward to meeting you.

Contact Turlock Dental Care:

209-798-0316

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

3131 Colorado Ave Turlock, California 95382

Toothaches happen. The best way to prevent them is to keep your teeth and gums healthy and clean. That means brushing and flossing twice a day, avoiding the sugary stuff, and having regular dental checkups. But they still happen sometimes, and when they do, see us at Turlock Dental Care in Turlock CA.

Toothaches may be characterized by a dull ache, or by throbbing and a sore, tender mouth. If something prevents you from getting to our office right away, there is short-term relief available to keep the pain at bay.

Here are some tried-and-true home remedies for a toothache:

• Cold Compress: An ice pack can do wonders to dull pain, especially when there is swelling. Another option is a bag of frozen vegetables  – peas are really good because of their size. Hold it against the outside of your cheek just above the painful tooth. Alternate between several minutes on, several minutes off.
• Saltwater Rinse: Dissolve a teaspoon of salt into a glass of warm water, then swish it around your mouth for about half a minute. Then spit it out. A salt water rinse can loosen debris stuck in cavities and can reduce swelling. Repeat the rinse as often as you like.
• Garlic: Seriously, garlic. It might sound like hocus-pocus, but garlic has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries. It contains allicin, which has natural antibacterial properties. You can chew a piece of garlic or put diced bits on the tooth. Obviously, the downside is the smell!
• Painkillers: Aspirin or ibuprofen can provide temporary relief from a toothache. There are plenty of brands to choose from. If you decide on aspirin, swallow it. Some people think, erroneously, that placing aspirin directly on the tooth will help. It won’t, and could even hurt the inside of your mouth.

Of course, the sooner you get professional treatment, the better. And the best thing is to get to Turlock Dental Care in Turlock CA as soon as possible. Patients from Modesto, Patterson, and Oakdale come to us for toothache relief, emergency dental care, and general dentistry services. Contact us today!

Contact Turlock Dental Care:

209-667-7889

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

3131 Colorado Ave
Turlock, California
95382