Sedation dentistry, alternatively called relaxation dentistry or oral sedation dentistry, is a process of delivering oral medication or a combination of medications in order to induce a heightened state of relaxation. Sedation dentistry puts the patient at ease, reduces or eliminates fears, relaxes both the mind and the body, and often produces moderate amnesia of the subsequent dental work performed. It is estimated that one in seven people harbor deep phobic fears of dentistry. For many, those fears keep them from stepping inside a dentist's office, sometimes for years and to the detriment of their quality of life. Sedation dentistry is often seen as the answer to their prayers, not only because it delivers pain-free dentistry but because …show more content…
She is originally from Russia and though her command of the English language is excellent, she occasionally sends me some of her papers so I can look them over. Recently I received a paper titled: "Traditional Chinese Tongue Diagnosis." It was an examination of some of the methods the ancient Chinese used to diagnosis disease by looking at the surface texture, color, and general appearance of the tongue. I'm not sure whether studying this was part of the curriculum or an assignment that she came up with on her own, but it did strike me as a little unusual. Now new evidence suggests that looking in the mouth to diagnosis and find the cause of disease in other parts of the body may not be so farfetched after all. One thing for certain is that the face of modern dentistry is changing, and some of it is a realization that some of the things that were considered "alternative" in the past are now becoming more mainstream. Take the "mercury debate" for example. That one has been going on among dentists and research scientists for the past 150 years. But before the late nineties, there was no mention of the topic in dental school, nor was it in any of the dental journals. Today, the sensitivity to mercury is still being debated, but newer, safer materials are being developed and used. We know that mercury is bad to have in your system, but how much? And how much do you get from fillings in your teeth and how much from
Have you ever wondered why you have no feeling during surgery? The reasoning behind this is a doctor called an anesthesiologist. For those who are wondering who they are and what they do, anesthesiologists are doctors who, after completing many years of school and training, work many hours to make sure patients feel no pain during surgery, and earn a good salary along with good benefits.
Nitrous oxide is administered via a face mask and is used to take the edge off of your nerves. This form of sedation is great for uncomplicated procedures and for patients experiencing only mild levels of fear or anxiety. If you fall into this category, nitrous oxide sedation may be for you.
This type of sedation should be used for patients who are fearful or very anxious about a procedure. It can also be used during longer or more complicated procedures in order to help the patient feel at ease. Oral sedation is administered via a pill or tablet and creates a sort of grogginess. You will need to have a friend or family member drive you to and from our office if you elect to use oral sedation. You will be conscious throughout the procedure, though you will feel very relaxed. If you are undergoing a complicated procedure or are afraid of the dentist, this type of sedation may be for
Many times you may need something more than just cosmetic intervention for that great elusive smile. This basically occurs when along with great smile, you need to create healthy bite too. This comes under the field orthodontic dentistry as it is a specialty that covers not only the diagnosis and treatment of the correction of the bad bites but its interception, guidance and prevention. A skilled Orthodontist St Louis makes sure that you have a good bite so that it becomes easier for you to speak, bite and chew.
As we grow up, we are often asked what we want to be. Many people say careers such as a doctor or an actor. When I grow up, I want to be a dental hygienist. When I tell people this they often think i’m crazy for wanting to “work in someone’s mouth”. Dental hygiene is appealing to me. It is a big part of personal hygiene and keeping yourself healthy. One of the first things a person notices about you is your smile and I want to help people perfect theirs. I know that being a dental hygienist will not be the easiest thing in the world but there are some benefits. You don’t have to work full time if you don’t want to. Also as stated by Jenny Lewellen, “Overtime is not expected” (Lewellen). Hygienists also get a good salary. “The median annual wage for
It's important for any high school student to have an idea or plan of what they want to pursue in the near future. Most students want to go into the medical field, become a professional athlete, a lawyer, etc. Many talk about becoming a dentist, but not a dental assistant. Simply because they feel like it's not that big of a title of being a dental assistant as compared to a dentist. Little do they know dental assistants play a big role as well in the office. A dental assistant does many tasks and duties that help benefit the dentist and also the patients.
Patients feel fear not so much from the actual pain but from the lack of control that they feel lying in a dental chair. That creates a lot of anxiousness in some patients, as they don’t feel helpless. Most dentists continue treating all patients in a similarly assuming that they all have similar pain level and will handle the procedure in the same way. Dentists should be mindful of their patient’s level of tolerance and make them aware of the entire procedure ahead of time so that they are able to handle the unexpected situations. They should take time to ensure that the patient feels comfortable at every step. Use of medications and wide array of techniques can help patients eliminate pain and anxiety and making dental visits a pleasant experi...
Dentistry as a profession over the years has evolved rapidly in light of new scientific evidence. Rapidly evolving science and technology have implemented changes within dentistry as evidenced by new standards and guidelines being produced by nationally recognised associations including National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), Faculty of General Dental Practice (FGDP) and Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) in Scotland, in provision of new scientific evidence. The latest standards and guidelines produced, endorse everyday clinical practice through evidence based dentistry (REF). All dental professionals as part of continued professional development are expected to keep to date on relevant guidelines and knowledge related to their practice (REF). This is supported by the General Dental Council who state all clinicians must maintain their professional knowledge and competence throughout their working career (REF).
Volles, D. F. (2011, April 11). University of Virginia Health System Adult and Geriatric Sedation/Analgesia for Diagnostic and Therapeutic Procedures. Retrieved May 12, 2011, from University of Virgina Health System: University of Virginia Health System Adult and Geriatric Sedation/Analgesia for Diagnostic and Therapeutic Procedures
Healthcare is a necessity to sustain society. Dentistry is an area of healthcare that I feel extremely passionate about because access to proper dental care is limited, especially in the underserved communities. As an African American, I want to become a dentist and healthcare provider in the hopes of helping patients and adding to the diversification of the field. With a growing minority population in the United States, it has become apparent that there is a shortage of black dentists. This is problematic because underrepresented minorities are in great need of access to culturally connected dentists who understand their clinical needs as much as their lives and their challenges. I believe that when the profession includes a range of ethnicities
Sedation dentistry involves the use of medications to allow a patient to relax when they
Anesthesiologists face many issues, one of the most important being drug shortages. These drug shortages are on some of the most vital anesthetics, those used on a daily basis. These shortages result in numerous problems not only for the physicians, but also for the patients because it creates different side effects and creates hazards in the hospitals. Although still developing, some solutions have risen that might help alleviate the drug shortages even though they are not as effective as expected.
Introduction: In Canada, general dental health is not part Canada’s national system of health insurance (Medicare) (1) except for some dental surgical procedures that are performed at hospitals. Since Oral health does not come under the Health Act about ninety-five percent of the oral health care services are offered on a fee-for-service basis. Oral health care is under provincial or territorial jurisdiction like other health care services and publically financed dental care programs provide the remaining five percent of oral health care services (2). Thus, majority of Canadians receive oral health via privately owned dental clinics. Privately owned dental care gives these services providers control over dental service charges, types of available treatment for the patients and number of follow-up appointment for treatments or routine care. Service users pay for the dental expenses from their own pockets or utilize insurance coverage (1).
In the past, diseased or damaged teeth could not be salvaged and in most cases, had to be pulled out. However, in the last three decades, endodontic dentistry has evolved to quite an extent and today, professionals trained in this specialty can help save teeth and repair any inherent damage. Common endodontic procedures include root canal therapy, fixing of broken teeth and repairing dental trauma.
It can be painful, requiring having to go to the dentist for intensive tooth and gum recontouring.