Here is a method that is helping patients to conquer dental phobia
Are you afraid of the dentist? Does the notion of visiting the dentist send shivers down your spine? If yes, rest assured because you’re not alone. Many people have an inherent fear of the dentist. In medical terms, it is called “dental phobia”. However now, a better option is available — sleep dentistry. As the name suggests, it involves the use of sedatives i.e. agents that make you sleep through the entire dental procedure. You will not experience any pain and so you can rest assured. Sleep dentistry or sedation dentistry is really a boon for many people.
Sleep dentists are specialists who are qualified to practice sedation dentistry. It requires additional training to be able to administer sedatives and perform procedures. Sleep dentists are relatively rare to find. In the United States, only 4 to 6% of all dentists are qualified to administer sedatives.
Sedation dentistry has become popular and more effective because better sedatives have become available in the recent years. In the early days, sedatives were mainly administered via the intravenous route. People who have fear of the dentist also have fear of needles. For this reason, intravenous administration can be difficult in people who have dental phobia. However, better sedatives have become available now. These can be administered through the mouth. In fact, they are available in the form of a pill which can be taken half an hour before the dental procedure is to be started.
One of the major advantages of sleep dentistry is that the patient will not experience any type of pain while the procedure is being performed. This is because apart from sedatives, anesthetic agents are also administered. These agents act on the central nervous system and suppress pain sensation. Sleep dentistry is very effective in overcoming dental phobia. When the patient is aware that the procedure will not cause pain, it will give confidence and provide relief from anxiety.
If you have dental phobia, you may consider sleep dentistry. If you’re thinking of opting for sedation dentistry, you can ask your dentist for recommendations. If your dentist cannot perform sedation dentistry, he or she will refer the case to a specialist.
Laser Teeth Whitening
Laser teeth whitening is a new technique that makes use of a laser beam to restore normal color of stained teeth. It is also known as power whitening because it is more effective when compared to traditional whitening techniques. More and more dental clinics have stated offering laser whitening because of advantages and effectiveness.
Teeth can become discolored for a number of reasons. One of the most common reasons is improper oral hygiene. Smoking cigarettes can also cause teeth to get discolored. Certain foods like tea, coffee and wine can also cause staining of the teeth. Teeth may also get discolored because of nutritional deficiencies. There are several ways to restore the natural color of the teeth. Laser teeth whitening is one such technique which is gaining popularity these days.
Laser teeth whitening takes about one hour to complete. During the procedure, the dental practitioner will apply the whitening gel to the stained teeth and then make a laser beam incident over them. The laser beam heats the gel which causes stains to leach out. The stains are trapped in minute pores of the teeth.
Even though laser teeth whitening has many advantages, there are some demerits as well. In some cases, the whitening gel may penetrate too deeply into the enamel and cost pain. It can also make the teeth extremely sensitive. Overall, however, laser whitening doesn’t have serious side effects.
Laser whitening can be performed multiple times until with the results obtained or once every few months. Teeth are porous and so will get stained again after some time. For this reason, the whitening procedures may have to be performed again after a few months.
There are several brands of laser teeth whitening products. The kind of product you will require will be determined by the dentist depending on situation and budget. It is always better to take advice from the dentist before purchasing the whitening products online.
Laser teeth whitening can be a little costly when compared to conventional whitening techniques. However, it is much more effective and so is worth the investment. In other words, it the better option of the two.
Incoming search terms:
Sedation Dentist–You Don’t Have to be Afraid of the Dentist Anymore!
Sedation is commonly given during dental procedures to keep the patient calm and relaxed. Sedatives are good option if the patient has dental phobia or anxiety problems. Sedatives make the patient drowsy and so effectively control anxiety and phobia problems. Not all dentists use sedatives. In the United States, only 6% of dentists use sedatives. This is because it takes additional training and experience to be able to administer sedatives effectively and perform dental procedures. For this reason, it can be difficult to find a sedation dentist.
What are sedatives?
Sedatives are chemical compounds that induce sleep in the patient. These work by acting directly on the central nervous system. Depending on the amount of sedatives administered, the patient can feel slightly drowsy or fall fully asleep. Sedatives are usually used to make the patient relaxed and anxiety free during various dental procedures.
There are four ways in which sedatives can be administered to the patient. These are:
• Oral sedatives: These are available in the form of a pill which has to be swallowed. Oral sedatives are given to patients who have fear of needles, where intravenous administration is not possible. Diazepam is a common oral sedative. Oral sedatives are usually given 30 minutes before the dental procedure. Local anesthesia is required.
• Intravenous sedatives: These are given via the vein. Intravenous sedatives are more commonly used when compared to other ways of sedation. Local anesthesia is still required.
• Inhalation: Nitrous oxide or laughing gas is the most popular sedative that is administered through the nose. Nitrous oxide doesn’t relieve pain, it only reduces anxiety. For this reason, an anesthetic is also administered locally in addition to nitrous oxide.
• General anesthesia: In this method, the patient is made unconscious by using an anesthetic agent. Unlike the other mentioned methods, the person will be completely unconscious and will not experience any pain. For this reason, no local anesthesia is required.
Depending on the amount of sedatives administered, the patient may experience slight sedation, conscious sedation, deep sedation or unconsciousness. The amount of sedatives to be given will be determined by the dentist. Certain procedures such as oral surgery require the patient to be unconscious while certain procedures can be performed under light sedation.
Sleep Sedation Dentistry
The terms “sleep dentistry” or “sedation dentistry” refer to the use of sedatives during dental procedures. Sedatives put the patient into a relaxed state, so that he or she doesn’t experience any pain or anxiety during the procedure. Sedation is commonly used for procedures that can take a long time or can be painful. It is also used the patient has dental phobia.
There are different types of dental sedations. The technique employed will depend on the treatment being performed. Depending on the situation, the dentist may either use moderate sedatives that are administered orally or deeper sedatives that are administered intravenously.
Many people have a fear of the dentist. Sedation is a good option in such cases. In recent years, several advancements have been made in the field of sedation. Earlier, sedatives were administered only intravenously. Nitrous oxide was another common sedative. This was a problem for patients who are afraid of needles. However, these days, new sedatives have become available which can be administered orally.
Sedatives suppress the functioning of the central nervous system. Depending on the extent to which the central nervous system gets suppressed, the patient may experience slight drowsiness or deep sleep. When minimal sedation is administered, the patient will experience reduced anxiety but will still respond to verbal stimulus. In deep sedation, the patient will lose consciousness and will not respond to external stimulus.
The type of sedative to be used will be determined by the dentist. There are three types of sedative techniques:
1) Inhalation sedation: In this technique, the sedative is administered through the nose. Nitrous oxide is commonly used in inhalation sedation.
2) Oral sedation: In this, the patient is given pills containing the sedatives. Benzodiazepines of the commonly used oral sedatives. Halcion is another popular oral sedative.
3) Intravenous sedation: Drugs are administered into the bloodstream via the veins.
Sedation dentistry has some disadvantages. First and foremost, it is expensive. Oral sedation relatively cheaper. However, intravenous sedation can be little costly. Second, sedation doesn’t help in overcoming patient’s dental phobia. Many dentists use sedation dentistry to cover up for the lack of patient skills.
Dentistry and Sedation
In dentistry, sedatives are commonly used to keep the patient relaxed and painfree during the surgical procedure. Sedatives are chemical compounds that induce sleep in the patient. Some of the common sedatives used in the field of dentistry include tranquilizers, anesthetics and anti-anxiety drugs. The most common anesthetic used in dentistry is nitrous oxide. Newer sedatives are also available these days most of which are administered orally.
In the yesteryears, sedatives were usually administered through the intravenous route. People who have fear of the dentist also have fear of needles. For this reason, intravenous administration may not be an option while dealing with patients who have extreme fear of the dentist. However, newer sedatives have become available which are administered orally. These are available as tablets which can be swallowed.
Putting the patient under sedation while performing dental procedures has many advantages. It makes it possible to perform painful procedures. Without sedation, it would be very difficult to perform such procedures. Certain procedures are not only painful but also take a long time to complete. Such procedures cannot be performed without the use of anesthetics and sedatives. Besides, sedation makes the patient very cooperative and also eliminates the fear of the dentist by ensuring that procedures are the least painful. Sedation boosts the patient’s morale and provides confidence. By knowing in advance that procedures won’t be painful, the patient can rest assured, ultimately leading to overcoming the fear of the dentist.
Before giving sedatives to the patient, the dentist will perform certain preliminary checks. Certain patients may be allergic to sedatives and so the history of the patient will be evaluated to check for allergies. Allergic reactions can be very dangerous and so for this reason you should always inform your dentist about any allergic reactions that you might have in advance.
It is advisable to avoid certain foods or prescription medicines before going for sedation dentistry. For example, alcohol interferes with most sedatives. Combining both of them can cause extreme drowsiness. For this reason, you should avoid alcohol before the procedure. Similarly, you should also inform your dentist if you are taking prescription medicines or vitamin supplements.
Once the surgery is completed, you’ll be weaned off the sedatives. It may take some time before all the effects wear off completely. However, if you feel something is unusual should contact your dentist immediately.
Incoming search terms:
Pediatric Dental Sedation
Sedation dentistry is the branch of dentistry that uses sedatives to put the patient into a state of sleep while the dental procedure is being performed. Sedation dentistry has several advantages. More and more dental clinics are offering it these days. Every child behaves differently at the dental clinic. Some children may be afraid whereas others may be very cooperative. Pediatric dental sedation is a special case of dental sedation where sedatives are given to infants and younger children. There are certain unique factors that need to be taken into account in pediatric dental sedation.
Usually, young children have a fear of the dentist. As a parent, it can be very difficult to convince the child and take him or her to a dental clinic. This is where sedation dentistry helps. It can be difficult to administer sedatives to an uncooperative child through the intravenous route. However, sedatives administered via IV are more predictable. If your child has fear of needles, there are alternatives. Today, oral sedatives are available which come in the form of a tablet. These are equally effective and are the only option the child has extreme fear of needles.
The most commonly used sedative in dental clinics is nitrous oxide or laughing gas. Other sedatives or medicines may also be required to make the child more cooperative and stressfree. In some cases, general anesthesia may also be required. Other commonly used sedatives include Chloral hydrate, Meperidine, Midazolam, Hydroxyzine, and Phenergan. In some cases, Valium and similar pain medicines may also be administered.
One of the main differences between pediatric sedation and sedation in adults is that it is difficult to predict the way the child will behave. Some uncertainty about the safe dose also exists. For example, if the child doesn’t respond well to the normal dose of sedative, positive results cannot be expected by doubling the dose.
Another aspect of pediatric dental sedation is child psychology. Before the treatment can begin, the child needs to be comfortable. Usually, the dentist will employ verbal techniques such as positive reinforcement, and voice-control to make the child more comfortable.
Incoming search terms:
Sedation Dentistry
Sedation dentistry refers to the use of sedatives to keep the patient calm and relaxed during the dental procedure. The common sedatives include tranquillizers, anti-anxiety drugs and anesthetics such as nitrous oxide. Earlier, sedatives are usually administered intravenously that is through the veins. However today, patients can opt for oral administration as well. Many people are afraid of needles. Oral sedation is a good alternative for them. It has made a visit to the dentist painless and anxiety-free.
Sedation offers many benefits. Dental procedures that are painful take a long time cannot be performed without sedation. Cosmetic surgical procedures usually take one or more hour and are always performed under sedation. However, other procedures such as teeth-whitening do not require sedation as they are pain-free.
Another potential benefit of sedation is that it provides confidence to the patient and relieves anxiety. Many people are afraid of visiting the dentist. The fore-knowledge that the dental procedures will not cause any pain can be a strong motivating factor for many to get the procedure done.
Before starting the treatment and administering sedatives, the dentist will perform some initial tests to ascertain the condition. Some people may have allergic reactions to sedatives. Allergic reactions can be serious and even life threatening. For this reason, if you have any allergies, you should inform your dentist about them.
Certain prescriptions medications can also interfere with sedatives. Inform your dentist if you are currently taking any prescriptions medicines or vitamin supplements. Additionally, you should avoid alcohol and smoking for at least a few days before and after the dental procedure. The combination of alcohol and sedatives can make you feel very drowsy. On the other hand, smoking should be avoided because it can slow down healing. Based on all these factors, your dentist will choose the sedative appropriate for you.
After the surgical procedure is completed, it will take some time for the sedative to wear off completely. Once the sedative wears off, you may experience some pain. Painkillers are usually prescribed to supress it. However, if you experience anything unusual, you should contact your dentist immediately.
Incoming search terms:
