OralHealth Journal Mar 01, 2018
Many people experience a deep fear of sitting in the dental chair even though dentistry can significantly improve their health. By understanding a few key basics about the nervous system (and how fear, pain, and anxiety work in the body), you can help minimize pain, shut down fear responses, and decrease inflammation. This understanding can decrease the load on your staff and schedule, and help your clients leave their appointments smiling. Understanding the interaction of the trigeminal nerve with the vagus nerve and their roles in either upregulation of the nervous system (fight or flight) or relaxation and pain relief (a parasympathetic state) can help you accomplish this.