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Is Your Low Pain Threshold Preventing You From Visiting The Dentist?

16 October 2020 by Christy Long

A low pain threshold can be a problem. Even something seemingly minor can cause a great deal of pain. In some people it can begin to affect their quality of life, with common, necessary tasks such as going to the dentist, being delayed or even ignored. Do you worry about going to the dentist because of your sensitivity to pain? Your low pain threshold shouldn't interfere with your ability to get the dental care you need. 

Your Low Pain Threshold

Although a low pain threshold is recognized as a legitimate problem, its causes aren't so widely understood. Environmental and genetic factors can play a role, as can gender, with women often having a lower pain threshold than men. You might not even know why you have such a low pain threshold, and the actual reason might not seem so important in circumstances when your pain threshold might be tested.

Discomfort and Anxiety

For most people, dental procedures can be uncomfortable, as opposed to painful. It's different when you have a low pain threshold. This can also create anxiety about the overall experience, which can make the anticipation even worse. If you tend to avoid the dentist's chair because of your low pain threshold, you need to talk to your dentist about sedation dentistry.

Sedation Dentistry

Pain relief is commonplace in dentistry, but sedation dentistry takes it one step further, by partial or even complete sedation during the process. A moderate level of sedation is usually appropriate. You're sedated but still conscious. You might not be entirely aware of what is happening, but you certainly won't feel it. It's like a form of controlled intoxication, designed to calm you and minimize your sensitivities, allowing the dentist to perform the necessary work.

Mild Sedation

You can even receive mild sedation for minor procedures, such as scaling and polishing, when your low pain threshold creates an unacceptable level of discomfort. This is more like a relaxant, where you're fully awake, with your senses slightly subdued.

How It's Administered

Sedation can be administered in a number of different ways, depending on the desired level of sedation. Mild sedation is usually given orally (with a pill), but inhaling nitrous oxide can also give the necessary result. More thorough sedation is usually achieved intravenously, using an injection.

You shouldn't let your low pain threshold prevent you from receiving your necessary, regular dental care. Don't be afraid to talk to a dentist about your need for sedation dentistry. They will do all they can to accommodate the issue, and it's also in their best interests for you to be as comfortable as possible.

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