Sedation Dentistry
Imagine not being afraid of going to the dentist. Imagine being able to accomplish all your dental care in as little as one appointment. This is what Sedation dentistry can do for you. You'll be able to smile with confidence and chew your food without pain. If you've been putting off years of dental work, Sedation Dentistry can change your life.
Sedation dentistry, as the name implies, is a technique used by a trained dentist to provide a relaxing and anxiety-free experience for people receiving dental treatment. Many dentists now offer sedation dentistry; however, the level of experience among dentists in sedation dentistry varies. Dr. Dennis is one of only a few sedation dentists in the Saratoga region that has obtained certification and is licensed to practice both IV and Oral Sedation.
Why Sedation?
Many people avoid visiting the dentist because of the common dental phobia. Avoiding regular dental treatment often results in neglect of oral health and appearance, up to and beyond the point when drastic measures become necessary. Sedation dentistry addresses this phobia, allowing people to undergo dental work while avoiding this common apprehension. A major benefit to the sedation technique is that people often feel the procedure lasts only a few minutes when in fact, it might have taken hours to perform. Additionally, sedation dentistry is such that complex dental procedures normally requiring numerous visits can often be performed in just one or two sittings. Seeking the advice of a dentist experienced in sedation dentistry, rather than foregoing treatment because of fear and potential pain, gives people the opportunity to undergo critical and necessary procedures that they would have otherwise avoided.
Sleep Dentistry or Sedation Dentistry?
Although you are kept awake throughout the sedation process, sedation dentistry has occasionally been dubbed as sleep dentistry. However, the term sleep dentistry is misleading. In actual fact, you do not sleep during the procedure, but because of the sedation effect produced by the medication, you may feel sleepy. If complex medical problems exist that prohibit you from receiving sedation, you may be given a different medication to induce a deeper type of sleep during the dental procedure. This is called general anesthesia, not sedation dentistry.
Types of Sedation offered by Saratoga Smiles
1. Inhalation sedation (aka "laughing gas", nitrous, nitrous oxide)
2. Oral sedation (i.e. swallowing pills and/or a liquid)
3. Intravenous (IV) sedation (i.e. drugs administered into the blood stream through a vein
Inhalation sedation
Nitrous oxide (N2O) is simply a gas which you breathe. It's colorless, sweet-smelling, and nonirritating. After 5 minutes or so of breathing in the gas, you should experience a euphoric feeling that spreads throughout your body. It is similar to a 'happy drunk' feeling. Some people find that there are auditory or visual effects as well. You will feel a bit light headed and often people get 'the giggles' (hence the name laughing gas!). Nitrous oxide is usually used to take the edge off and is generally used for shorter appointments. This type of sedation is usually selected for those with slight apprehension.
Oral sedation
Enteral Conscious Sedation "Orally Administered Sedation "is administered by taking a pill. All body functions remain normal and the person is able to breathe on their own. The patient will often fall asleep. Some degree of amnesia is common. The disadvantage with this method of sedation, is that the level of sedation for each person is not predictable. You may have periods where you feel more awake throughout the procedure and you may remember some of the appointment. Most people that have a moderate amount of fear or anxiety related to dental procedures do well with this type of sedation; however, if you want to be assured that you will sleep throughout the entire appointment and not remember anything then you may want to opt for IV sedation.
IV sedation
IV sedation is the state-of-the-art technique for the comprehensive control of pain and anxiety in dentistry. Other sedative techniques such as nitrous oxide are commonly used in most dental offices. However, IV sedation?s superior results make it the method of choice for the highly fearful dental patient. With this type of sedation, medications are administered directly into the blood stream. The greatest advantage of IV Sedation is that if someone is not sedated enough, the doctor can administer more medication and the effects are instantaneous. Because of the kinds of drugs used and the method of their delivery, IV sedation allows the dentist to control their effects precisely.
IV Sedation, also known as Deep Conscious Sedation, is not used commonly in most dental offices because of the specialized advanced training required and the requirements for certification by the State Board of Dentistry. The drugs used for IV Sedation are more effective then the same drugs taken orally. There is a more profound amnesia associated with this technique. With this level of sedation you still retain your protective reflexes and are able to follow verbal instructions.
Our office is unique
The use of IV Sedation in dentistry is carefully regulated by the New York State Board of Dental Examiners. To perform these advanced sedative techniques special university training and clinical experience are required. The educational and special equipment requirements are so stringent that less than 2% of general dentists in New York have a permit to perform the procedures. Prior to the issuance of a Conscious Sedation Permit, the office must be specially equipped with emergency equipment and drugs. Dr. Dennis has been granted a Conscious Sedation Permit to perform this advanced sedative technique. The office has state-of-the-art patient monitoring equipment to assure your comfort and safety during sedation. The office contains more emergency equipment and drugs than required by law, and the staff constantly trains to provide the highest level of sedation care.
Is IV Sedation safe?
Dr. Stanley Malamed, Professor of Anesthesia and Medicine, University of Southern California School of Dentistry, a nationally known expert on dental sedation and an author of two textbooks, calls dental IV Sedation one of the safest of all sedative techniques. ?While any sedative technique carries a degree of risk, the drugs used and their slow delivery, accompanied by modern monitoring equipment, make IV Sedation extremely safe. After personally supervising over 3,000 sedations at the University of Southern California School of Dentistry?, Malamed reported, ?Complications arising during sedation were less than 0.3 %, and even those were minor.? Since our office frequently sedates many of our patients per month, we constantly train to be ready for any occurrence. Each assistant is certified in Basic Life Support by the American Heart Association.
The time is NOW to get your teeth fixed
Comprehensive dentistry can save your teeth, improve your smile, and keep you looking youthful. However, the problems must be caught early and treated promptly. Oral or IV sedation can get you back to wonderfully healthy, attractive, and pain free teeth. Teeth of which you can be proud. Teeth that will serve you for a lifetime. Let us work together to give you the opportunity to get the dentistry you need without the fear of the treatment. You will find our team understanding, with regard for your special concerns when you call. We have treated literally hundreds of patients like yourself. Dentistry just does not have to be a scary experience like it has been in the past. Patients that have received dental care under Oral or IV Sedation will attest to this fact. These patients would also tell you that NOW is the time to take advantage of the most advanced sedative techniques in dentistry...before you have problems that will change your lifestyle.
Sedation dentistry, as the name implies, is a technique used by a trained dentist to provide a relaxing and anxiety-free experience for people receiving dental treatment. Many dentists now offer sedation dentistry; however, the level of experience among dentists in sedation dentistry varies. Dr. Dennis is one of only a few sedation dentists in the Saratoga region that has obtained certification and is licensed to practice both IV and Oral Sedation.
Why Sedation?
Many people avoid visiting the dentist because of the common dental phobia. Avoiding regular dental treatment often results in neglect of oral health and appearance, up to and beyond the point when drastic measures become necessary. Sedation dentistry addresses this phobia, allowing people to undergo dental work while avoiding this common apprehension. A major benefit to the sedation technique is that people often feel the procedure lasts only a few minutes when in fact, it might have taken hours to perform. Additionally, sedation dentistry is such that complex dental procedures normally requiring numerous visits can often be performed in just one or two sittings. Seeking the advice of a dentist experienced in sedation dentistry, rather than foregoing treatment because of fear and potential pain, gives people the opportunity to undergo critical and necessary procedures that they would have otherwise avoided.
Sleep Dentistry or Sedation Dentistry?
Although you are kept awake throughout the sedation process, sedation dentistry has occasionally been dubbed as sleep dentistry. However, the term sleep dentistry is misleading. In actual fact, you do not sleep during the procedure, but because of the sedation effect produced by the medication, you may feel sleepy. If complex medical problems exist that prohibit you from receiving sedation, you may be given a different medication to induce a deeper type of sleep during the dental procedure. This is called general anesthesia, not sedation dentistry.
Types of Sedation offered by Saratoga Smiles
1. Inhalation sedation (aka "laughing gas", nitrous, nitrous oxide)
2. Oral sedation (i.e. swallowing pills and/or a liquid)
3. Intravenous (IV) sedation (i.e. drugs administered into the blood stream through a vein
Inhalation sedation
Nitrous oxide (N2O) is simply a gas which you breathe. It's colorless, sweet-smelling, and nonirritating. After 5 minutes or so of breathing in the gas, you should experience a euphoric feeling that spreads throughout your body. It is similar to a 'happy drunk' feeling. Some people find that there are auditory or visual effects as well. You will feel a bit light headed and often people get 'the giggles' (hence the name laughing gas!). Nitrous oxide is usually used to take the edge off and is generally used for shorter appointments. This type of sedation is usually selected for those with slight apprehension.
Oral sedation
Enteral Conscious Sedation "Orally Administered Sedation "is administered by taking a pill. All body functions remain normal and the person is able to breathe on their own. The patient will often fall asleep. Some degree of amnesia is common. The disadvantage with this method of sedation, is that the level of sedation for each person is not predictable. You may have periods where you feel more awake throughout the procedure and you may remember some of the appointment. Most people that have a moderate amount of fear or anxiety related to dental procedures do well with this type of sedation; however, if you want to be assured that you will sleep throughout the entire appointment and not remember anything then you may want to opt for IV sedation.
IV sedation
IV sedation is the state-of-the-art technique for the comprehensive control of pain and anxiety in dentistry. Other sedative techniques such as nitrous oxide are commonly used in most dental offices. However, IV sedation?s superior results make it the method of choice for the highly fearful dental patient. With this type of sedation, medications are administered directly into the blood stream. The greatest advantage of IV Sedation is that if someone is not sedated enough, the doctor can administer more medication and the effects are instantaneous. Because of the kinds of drugs used and the method of their delivery, IV sedation allows the dentist to control their effects precisely.
IV Sedation, also known as Deep Conscious Sedation, is not used commonly in most dental offices because of the specialized advanced training required and the requirements for certification by the State Board of Dentistry. The drugs used for IV Sedation are more effective then the same drugs taken orally. There is a more profound amnesia associated with this technique. With this level of sedation you still retain your protective reflexes and are able to follow verbal instructions.
Our office is unique
The use of IV Sedation in dentistry is carefully regulated by the New York State Board of Dental Examiners. To perform these advanced sedative techniques special university training and clinical experience are required. The educational and special equipment requirements are so stringent that less than 2% of general dentists in New York have a permit to perform the procedures. Prior to the issuance of a Conscious Sedation Permit, the office must be specially equipped with emergency equipment and drugs. Dr. Dennis has been granted a Conscious Sedation Permit to perform this advanced sedative technique. The office has state-of-the-art patient monitoring equipment to assure your comfort and safety during sedation. The office contains more emergency equipment and drugs than required by law, and the staff constantly trains to provide the highest level of sedation care.
Is IV Sedation safe?
Dr. Stanley Malamed, Professor of Anesthesia and Medicine, University of Southern California School of Dentistry, a nationally known expert on dental sedation and an author of two textbooks, calls dental IV Sedation one of the safest of all sedative techniques. ?While any sedative technique carries a degree of risk, the drugs used and their slow delivery, accompanied by modern monitoring equipment, make IV Sedation extremely safe. After personally supervising over 3,000 sedations at the University of Southern California School of Dentistry?, Malamed reported, ?Complications arising during sedation were less than 0.3 %, and even those were minor.? Since our office frequently sedates many of our patients per month, we constantly train to be ready for any occurrence. Each assistant is certified in Basic Life Support by the American Heart Association.
The time is NOW to get your teeth fixed
Comprehensive dentistry can save your teeth, improve your smile, and keep you looking youthful. However, the problems must be caught early and treated promptly. Oral or IV sedation can get you back to wonderfully healthy, attractive, and pain free teeth. Teeth of which you can be proud. Teeth that will serve you for a lifetime. Let us work together to give you the opportunity to get the dentistry you need without the fear of the treatment. You will find our team understanding, with regard for your special concerns when you call. We have treated literally hundreds of patients like yourself. Dentistry just does not have to be a scary experience like it has been in the past. Patients that have received dental care under Oral or IV Sedation will attest to this fact. These patients would also tell you that NOW is the time to take advantage of the most advanced sedative techniques in dentistry...before you have problems that will change your lifestyle.
