Drug-Free NuCalm in Nashville, TN - Center for Advanced Dentistry

Most people experience some level of anxiety at the dentist. This is normal but unpleasant. And then there are people who find it hard to make their dental appointments because of their level of fear. This can seriously damage a person’s oral health. In the past, we’ve responded with sedation dentistry, which is effective, but not everyone wants to use drugs to calm down at the dentist. NuCalm is an exciting, scientific approach to relaxation that works without drugs and is appropriate even for people who have minor dental anxiety and wouldn’t want to use sedation. NuCalm works for about 95% of people who have tried it.

At the Center for Advanced Dentistry, Nashville’s leading dentist Dr. Forbes adopts technologies that help his patients enjoy better comfort as well as better results in a holistic health environment. NuCalm’s approach to using the brain’s own mechanisms to defuse anxiety makes it an ideal technology for our patients.

If you would like to enjoy a meditative relaxation experience during your next dental visit, please call for an appointment at the Center for Advanced Dentistry.

Dental Anxiety Is Normal

Many people just try to cope with their dental anxiety because they think it’s foolish. After all, their dentist is a doctor who wants to help–they shouldn’t be afraid. Or maybe they don’t want to offend their dentist.

But the truth is that dental anxiety is very common. About four out of five people report feeling some level of dental anxiety, and with one out of five, dental anxiety is so bad it keeps them from making regular dental visits.

And, if you think about it, dental anxiety is very understandable. A dentist puts you in a reclined position, shines a bright light on your face, stands very close, and reaches into your mouth. This is a situation that you would expect to elevate your stress level.

We understand your feelings, believe us, and we do all we can to attempt to make you feel comfortable, welcome, and in control during your dental visits. We also know that our efforts aren’t always enough. That’s why we’ve long been happy to offer sedation dentistry and why we’re now even happier to offer NuCalm.

How NuCalm Works

NuCalm is the world’s only technology patented for “Systems and Methods for Balancing and Maintaining the Health of the Human Autonomic Nervous System.” The autonomic nervous system is an unconscious network of nerves that regulates the function of your organs. It’s the system that controls your body’s stress responses, including “fight or flight” and “freeze and dissociate” responses. By regulating your body’s response to stress, NuCalm puts you into a relaxed state, one that many users compare to deep meditation.

NuCalm consists of four elements. First, there’s the sleep hormone, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which your body naturally uses to encourage sleep. These are derived from food sources and are completely natural. They can be delivered using a skin cream or chewable supplements.

Normally your body isn’t receptive to GABA when it’s stressed. But a gentle stimulation via cranial electrotherapy stimulation (CES) opens the brain to receive the GABA. CES has been approved for use in treating anxiety and insomnia, and it’s an effective, gentle treatment.

To further help your brain get into a relaxed state, NuCalm includes a neuroacoustic software. You will wear headphones that play music, but embedded in the music is two different beats, which play in each ear. Your brain tries to accommodate both beats by matching its brainwaves to the difference between them. This puts your brainwaves at the same frequency as when you’re at the edge of sleep.

Finally, we have to deal with the bright lights that can stimulate your brain’s stress response. That’s done with a simple eye mask.

The entire process takes just a couple of minutes to apply, and within five minutes you are relaxed. You’re not asleep, you’re fully awake, but you’re in a meditative state.

Because NuCalm doesn’t use drugs, and it has many positive side effects–people often report feeling energized, more creative, and getting better sleep after using NuCalm–it’s appropriate for every patient, even if you don’t feel any anxiety at the dentist.

Dr. Forbes Is a Leader in Dental Technology

If you are looking for a Nashville dentist who is at the forefront of the industry, then you are looking for Dr. Forbes at the Center for Advanced Dentistry. NuCalm is just the latest technology he’s introduced to his practice to help his patients enjoy a better dental experience.

To learn the benefits of NuCalm for yourself, please contact the Center for Advanced Dentistry at (615) 383-6787.

Testimonials

The new owner of Center For Advanced Dentistry, Dr. Mckinnon Forbes has done several procedures on me when was practicing in North Carolina and I... read more

Beverly A.

I had an amazing first experience at the Center for Advanced Dentistry. I felt prioritized, taken care of, and respected as a customer. For most... read more

Noah W.

If you have dental anxiety, this is for you! In April of last year, I had to have a molar extracted (from a different dentist) and the experience... read more

Sammie U.

They deserve a 10 out of 10 from this patient!!! AHH-MAZING! We had a life changing experience for our household. When you have dental anxiety and... read more

Richelle T.

So happy to have found a dentist that feels like home :) I was looking for a holistically minded practice, and CFAD checked all the boxes. our... read more

Jamie C.

Dr. Forbes is THE BEST!!! Not only is he an expert in his field, he is personable, kind, and his staff made me comfortable at every turn. I gladly... read more

Rachel S.

I was extremely hesitant to try yet another dentist. I needed to get another opinion for my own peace of mind though, so I gave CFAD a try. I had... read more

Tamara B.

Sammie U.

If you have dental anxiety, this is for you! In April of last year, I had to have a molar extracted (from a different dentist) and the experience was quite horrible. I had already developed some dental anxiety prior to this, but this particular visit sent it through the roof. I knew I needed a new dentist and I wanted to find a holistic one who would align with my values and refer out to other practices as little as possible. I found Dr. Forbes at Center for Advanced Dentistry and scheduled a consult knowing I would eventually need an implant to replace my missing tooth. Crissy, their patient coordinator, spent almost three hours with me that first day! She was incredibly kind, great at helping educate me about the root causes of the issues going on in my mouth, patient answering all my questions, and so encouraging when I shared with her how much I struggled with anxiety when getting dental work done. Her passion for helping others in this field radiates through her and quickly helps build an immediate trust. We discussed several different options to best fit my timeline, budget, fears/anxiety, etc. I chose to have two additional teeth extracted (both were root canals that I had wanted out for years) and have implants placed in the, what would be three missing areas. At first, I had decided I wanted to be fully put under with anesthesia because I was so nervous about the procedure. But as we got closer, I started to wonder if I could do it without since it was so expensive, and overall not the healthiest option either. Dr. Forbes and Crissy encouraged me that I could do the procedure with alternative calming methods that they offer and that if at any point I felt like I couldn’t handle it, we could stop. Y’all, I don’t have the words to express the gratitude toward Dr. Forbes and the whole CAD office on surgery day. From their patience in waiting for me to be ready for them to start, to holding my hand and wiping away my tears. From Dr. Forbes communicating with me throughout the whole process, to pushing through seven hours with me in the chair to wrap up what I believe to be the best work anyone could have performed. I’m not even three days post-op and I can’t believe how little pain I’ve felt. I will never trust another dentist like I do Dr. Forbes and I can honestly say I’m less fearful now for future procedures. I look forward to the future dental work and corrections I’ve needed for such a long time! I never thought that would be possible. Thank you, Center for Advanced Dentistry!

Tamara B.

I was extremely hesitant to try yet another dentist. I needed to get another opinion for my own peace of mind though, so I gave CFAD a try. I had seen multiple friends post about them and from the look of their website and social media they looked like they aligned well with my holistic approach to health in general. Backstory: I have had a handful of dental emergencies as an adult, that always led to tooth removal. They were at traditional dentist offices that seemed to want the quick fix to everything. I believe my teeth probably could have been saved if I had known more about preventative oral health and the holistic mindset around teeth in general back then. Most dentists (at least the many that I have seen) do not educate you on full body functional health. They focus on service level in my opinion. I needed more than this. I was tired of not understanding. So I learned more about holistic options. I have a lot of anxiety seeing dentists because every visit for over a decade was always bad news. I need my bite corrected, a few implants, and some small fires to be put out. I don't need a celebrity smile like other doctors have pushed, and I very much like my smile how it is. What I need is better function of my overall health. I didn't want braces at 33 and the suggested gameplan from another doctor was many years of work. Going into CFAD today, I felt this huge weight and confusion over me. I was nervous and defeated, but I walked out empowered and confident! My consultation was more like having coffee with a friend. Crissy immediately helped my nerves dissipate with her personality and gentle demeanor. We talked for hours. The wealth of knowledge that was poured into me was exactly what I was searching for. She was very likeminded about health in general and made me feel safe to ask questions. She eased into the plan for my mouth and I never felt like she was rushing or waiting to move on to the next topic. I could have talked to her all day. She really made me completely comfortable before I even saw Dr. Forbes. So by the time he came in, I had zero anxiety. That alone is a miracle in itself, because it's never happened before. The plan for my mouth is different than I expected, but I am so excited for their expertise to be a success story for me. I actually understand the plan and why. Another first! I don't need to get braces, and it actually won't take much time at all to bring functionality back into my mouth. If you are on the fence about big dental work, I highly suggest meeting with Center for Advanced Dentistry for a consultation. I can't wait to start improving and healing my mouth with this amazing team.

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