NuCalm: All-Natural Relaxation Dentistry

Do you become intolerably nervous when you step into the dentists’ office? Do you perhaps have a painful problem, such as a toothache, but you avoid seeking treatment because of severe anxiety about dental procedures? Really Smile, a provider of advanced dentistry in Carmel, IN, can help with relaxation dentistry, using the all-natural, side-effect free relaxation system known as NuCalm.

What is Dental Anxiety?  

In our Carmel, IN dental practice we see almost everyday the ravages of a condition known as dental anxiety. A patient with dental anxiety has such difficulty with going to the dentist (even sitting in the waiting room is a challenge) that he or she will go for as long as possible without seeing the dentist, even when in serious pain. This eventually results in serious dental and oral health problems for these patients, problems that if addressed earlier would have been relatively simple to take care of.

For instance, a patient with dental anxiety might have gingivitis. Gingivitis is the second and less serious stage of gum disease, and can be easily treated with a deep cleaning from your dentist and improvements in the patient’s oral health habits. Unfortunately, the patient is so irrationally afraid of the dentist that the gingivitis develops into periodontitis, which is a much more serious form of gum disease (and the leading cause of tooth loss in the US). If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. 60% of American adults report consistent experiences of at least mild dental anxiety. Even more unfortunate are those suffering with dental phobia. A patient with dental phobia would have a hard time even reading this blog post, let alone coming into the dentist. People with dental phobia usually have serious problems with their oral health as a result, and they make up 5% to 8% of the adult population.

What is NuCalm, and How Is It Different From Other Forms of Relaxation Dentistry?

Relaxation dentistry (sometimes called sedation dentistry) describes the use of sedatives and other relaxants to help overly anxious patients get the treatment they need by promoting calm and inducing a deep and profound sense of relaxation.

Most of these methods rely on the use of pharmaceutical-grade sedatives such as nitrous oxide (also called laughing gas), or narcotics (which are referred to as oral sedation; these are controlled substances in pill form and are safe to use when prescribed by a medical professional, such as your dentist).

NuCalm, on the other hand, is all-natural and does not involve the use of any drugs.

How Does NuCalm Work?

NuCalm uses a combination of nutritional supplements, CES (cranial electrotherapy stimulation), sound (binaural beats), and the reduction of visual stimuli (with very dark, wraparound sunglasses). Where narcotic sedatives work by basically shutting down your nervous system’s ability to panic (the “flight or fight” response), NuCalm’s approach to relaxation is through the chemical and sensory manipulation of your brainwaves. Your brain produces a number of brainwave frequencies that are connected to your brain’s activity. For example, when you’re working on solving a complex problem, your brain produces gamma waves.

NuCalm is designed to stop the production of beta waves (which are associated with anxiety) and promote the production of alpha waves. Alpha brainwaves are associated with the first stage of sleep. The first stage of sleep is the feeling of deep relaxation you have just as you’re about to “nod off”. The goal isn’t to make you sleep; your dentist may need to be able to communicate with you during the procedure. NuCalm promotes the continuous production of alpha waves, keeping you in that first stage of sleep; you’re awake, but you feel very, very relaxed.

Over 50,000 dentists have been helping patients with extreme dental anxiety using NuCalm since it was released in 2010. Patients who use NuCalm prefer it over other sedation and relaxation methods because it is non-narcotic and has no negative side effects (such as a feeling of “numbness” or having one’s senses “dulled”). In fact, NuCalm has the opposite effect. Once your visit to the dentist is concluded, you won’t have any problem walking right back into the rest of your day. You can even operate a vehicle immediately after your appointment. Best of all, patients report that the feeling of relaxation that NuCalm creates has lasted hours, even days, after leaving the dentist’s office. It is described as a consistent sensation of calmness, coupled with an unusually high degree of mental clarity and alertness.

Is NuCalm for Everyone?

NuCalm is generally well-accepted by the majority of patients, but patient experiences can vary. A few of our patients who have tried NuCalm have reported some apprehension and discomfort, because NuCalm is so radically different from other methods of relaxation and sedation dentistry that they might have had previously. These patients don’t report physical or emotional distress, they simply appear to prefer conventional sedation dentistry. For these patients, Really Smile offers oral sedation (a sedative pill prescribed by your dentist) and inhalation sedation (laughing gas, or nitrous oxide).

Has Dental Anxiety Impacted Your Oral Health?

If you’ve been avoiding the dentist’s office, even routine exams and cleanings, because you have an irrational fear of undergoing dental procedures, Really Smile can help with sedative dentistry and NuCalm!

Dial 317-597-8748 now to use our handy online appointment form to book your visit right now!