A Colorado Springs Dentist’s Comprehensive Guide to Sedation Dentistry, PART 3

This four-part article series provides an in-depth overview of sedation dentistry, what it is, how it works, the benefits it offers and what patients can expect from its different methods of administration.

Welcome to the third instalment of this four-part article series on sedation dentistry and the various aspects that patients want and need to know about this essential branch of dental healthcare. Previously, in Part 2, an experienced ColoradoSprings dentist explained the many wonderful benefits of sedation, which extend well past the simple act of calming nervous and fearful patients. It also eliminates pain and calms strong gag reflexes, while enabling dentists to perform longer and more complex procedures in a single appointment, rather than breaking it down into smaller and more manageable phases.

Now, let’s take a look at the three primary modes of sedation administration, the procedures involved and what patients can expect.

The Primary Modes of Sedation

• Oral Conscious Sedation

Oral conscious sedation simply involves swallowing one or two small pills, depending upon the recommendations of the Colorado Springs dentist. You will be required to arrive for your appointment an hour beforehand and the procedure and sedation will be explained to you in full again.

Once you have taken your pill, you will be left to sit back and relax while the effects kick in. By the time it’s your turn for an appointment, you should be feeling completely relaxed, comfortable and anxiety-free. While you are receiving treatment – even if it’s just a standard dental examination – the dentist will ensure that you’re comfortable and will also closely monitor your heart rate and blood pressure.

“Towards the end of your appointment, you may begin to become more conscious of what’s going on as the sedation effects of the pill wears off,” says a Colorado Springs implant dentist. “You’ll likely feel quite sleepy and won’t remember much from your procedure. Please do make sure to arrange transportation from your dental office to your home, because you won’t be fit for driving whilst under the effects of sedation, even though it’s wearing off.”

• Nitrous Oxide or Inhalation Sedation

The administration of sedative medications – usually Nitrous Oxide or “laughing gas” - via an oxygen mask is a popular method of sedation, especially for kids, nervous patients and for those with a strong gag reflex. Inhalation is suitable for patients between the ages of 5 to 95 years. The procedure, similar to oral conscious sedation, is really very simple:

“Upon arriving for your appointment, we’ll explain to you the entire procedure and what it is you can expect from your treatment,” says a Colorado Springs dental implant dentist. “We’ll also describe what you can expect to feel so that nothing takes you by surprise. Once you are comfortably in the dentist’s chair, we’ll put a small oxygen mask over your nose and mouth, but it won’t only be delivering oxygen to you. We use a mixture of oxygen and a gas called nitrous oxide, which makes you feel totally relaxed, spaced out and anxiety-free.

“Throughout treatment, we will periodically adjust your gas intake so that the calm, sedated state is maintained. In spite of this, you will still be able to respond to our questions and prompts, although you may slur your words! Once your treatment is complete, we’ll reduce the levels of nitrous oxide you’re breathing in until you’re left only with oxygen. We’ll then remove the mask and allow you some time to emerge from the fog of sedation.

“Once again, it’s important that you arrange for transportation home, because although you’ll feel a lot more awake after treatment, you still won’t be fit to drive yourself,” says the ColoradoSprings dentist.

Stay Tuned for Part 4

To read more about sedation dentistry and what the final mode of administration entails – intravenous sedation - stay tuned for the final instalment of this four-part article series.

A Colorado Springs Cosmetic Dentist’s Comprehensive Patient Guide to Sedation Dentistry, PART 2

This four-part article series provides an in-depth overview of sedation dentistry, what it is, how it works, the benefits it offers and what patients can expect from its different methods of administration.

Welcome to the second installment of this four-part article series on sedation dentistry and everything patients need to know about this essential branch of dental healthcare. Previously, in Part 1, an experienced Colorado Springs cosmetic dentist explained what sedation is and what the three primary modes for administration are (oral pills, nitrous oxide gas and intravenous) before going on to describe what it actually feels like for patients.

Now, let’s take a look at the many benefits of sedation dentistry…

The Benefits of Sedation Dentistry

• Anxiety-free Treatment: Sedation dentistry eliminates fear and anxiety, which encourages patients to receive the routine preventative or restorative treatment they need to keep their teeth healthy.

• No More Sweaty Palms and Racing Hearts: It also eliminates many of the physical symptoms associated with fear and anxiety, which includes sweating, trembling, fainting, nausea and panic attacks.

• Pain-free Treatment: You don’t need to be terrified of the dentist to benefit from sedation dentistry.

“Sedation is often administered to patients about to undergo complex and invasive procedures for which it eliminates pain, stress and discomfort,” explains the Colorado Springs dental implant dentist. It’s also good for patients who suffer with extremely sensitive or painful teeth.”

• Single Visit Treatment: Sedation dentistry enables dentists to perform longer and more involved procedures, such as dental implant surgery, in a single appointment instead of breaking it down into shorter phases or stages. With more work being achieved in a single appointment, patients are saved the time, inconvenience and expense of multiple procedures.

• A Good Dental Catch Up: Oftentimes, Colorado Springs dental implant dentists only see patients after many years of abandon, probably because fear and embarrassment has kept them away. Sedation dentistry enables the dentist to provide several years’ worth of treatment in only a few appointments. This isn’t the recommended way to go about receiving professional dental care, but it’s better than total neglect!

• Eliminates Gagging: Sedation can also be prescribed to those patients who have a strong gag reflex and who struggle to keep their lunch down, even when undergoing a straightforward check-up or cleaning.

• Benefits Dentist and Patient: Sedation dentistry is as beneficial to the patient as it is to the dentist. Any decent cosmetic dentist in Colorado Springs is wholly concerned about the comfort and wellbeing of their patients and if a patient is seen to be struggling with panic and fear, it’s going to be hard for the dentist to dispense the quality of care they are truly capable of. By sedating the patient, both parties are put at ease and, as such, the dentist can provide the best quality care under much better and more relaxed circumstances. Patients are also calmer and more cooperative under the effects of sedation.

• Safe and Easy: Sedation medications are easily metabolized by the body, so they won’t deliver an unpleasant hangover afterwards. They also take effect really quickly and the dentist can easily control the dosage.

Who’s the Ideal Candidate for Sedation Dentistry?

Image courtesy of Free Digital Photos

The ideal candidate for sedation dentistry is someone who suffers from any of the above-mentioned conditions: anxiety, fear, nervousness, strong gag reflex, painful or sensitive teeth or advanced neglect.

“If you have any kind of anxiety about undergoing dental treatment, whether it’s a routine examination or advanced surgery, sedation can really help you,” explains a cosmetic dentist in Colorado Springs. “It can also help you overcome your fear, making it easier for you to seek professional dental care in future, even if you’ve had a bad experience in the past.”

Stay Tuned for Part 3

To read more about sedation dentistry and what the different modes of administration entail (pills, nitrous oxide gas and IV), stay tuned for the third installment of this four-part article series.

A Colorado Springs Dental Implant Dentist’s Comprehensive Patient Guide to Sedation Dentistry, PART 1

This four-part article series provides an in-depth overview of sedation dentistry, what it is, how it works, the benefits it offers and what patients can expect from its different methods of administration.

No one likes the idea of having dental work done. Now couple that with an all-out fear of the dentist and you’ve got a patient who’s likely to choose living with toothache over going for an appointment. The problem is, left for too long, dental problems can become exponentially worse. Something that could easily have been repaired within the space of an hour could turn into a full mouth reconstruction project and, of course, you’ll be kicking yourself when you see the attached dental bills.

Phobia and anxiety aren’t choices, though. So how can the terribly fearful of Colorado Springs residents overcome the crippling physical manifestations of their fear to receive the routine preventative and restorative dental treatment necessary to maintain excellent oral health and hygiene? Moreover, how can these people find the inner strength to come in for procedures as terrifying as dental surgery? The answer is not to live with your dental problems…

It’s sedation dentistry.

In this four-part article series, a Colorado Springs dental implant dentist will be talking to us about sedation: what it is, how it works and the different methods of sedation available. He’ll explain to us what sedation feels like and what patients can expect from their experience. Armed with the knowledge of this, it is hoped that more Colorado Springs residents will be encouraged to see the dentist again, knowing that sedation can spare them the trauma of fear and anxiety attacks.

So, without further ado, let’s get started!

What is Sedation Dentistry?

Sedation dentistry is the answer Colorado Springs residents who have traditionally struggled with fear and anxiety have been waiting for. Through the administration of special medications that depress the central nervous system – much like alcohol does but without the liver damage and hangover – sedation makes dental treatment completely relaxing, pleasant and carefree.

There are three primary modes for sedation and they are:

1. Oral Conscious Sedation: Patients take one or two tranquillizer pills about an hour prior to their appointment or procedure.

2. Nitrous Oxide Sedation: Also known as “laughing gas,” patients breathe this in through an oxygen mask whilst in the dentist’s chair, which delivers immediate relaxing effects.

3. Intravenous (IV) Sedation: Delivered via an intravenous tube and controlled by the dentist throughout the procedure. IV sedation is especially useful for more complex and invasive procedures, such as dental implant surgery.

We will be taking a closer look at these various sedation methods and what patients can expect from them in a subsequent installment of this series. For now, our cosmetic dentist in Colorado Springs answers the following question…

What Does Sedation Feel Like?

“When sedated, you’ll physically feel calm and relaxed and mentally, somewhat detached from reality,” explains the Colorado Springs cosmetic dentist. “You won’t be fully aware of what’s going on and even better, you won’t care. Sedation can, in some respects, be compared with feeling slightly drunk except without any of the unpleasant side effects like nausea. You’ll feel sleepy, deeply relaxed and your thoughts will be “fuzzy” and dream-like. Few people actually remember their appointment once they’ve emerged from the effects of sedation, but what they will remember is that they didn’t experience any pain, anxiety or fear.”

Stay Tuned for Part 2

To read more about sedation dentistry and its many incredible benefits, stay tuned for the second installment of this four-part article series. 

 

Colorado Springs Cosmetic Dentists Explain 10 Smile-Preserving Changes You Could Make Today, PART 4

This four-part article series explains 10 changes anyone can make to their daily routine, lifestyle and habits that can help to extend the life and beautiful appearance of their teeth and gums.

Welcome to the final installment of this four-part article series on the 10 simple changes you could make today to ensure that you keep your teeth healthier and your smile beautiful for decades to come. Over the course of the past three articles of this series, Colorado Springs cosmetic dentists have explained the following eight beneficial changes to one’s routine and lifestyle:

1. Brush your teeth for just a little bit longer each day.

2. Brush your tongue or make use of a tongue-scraper after brushing your teeth.

3. See your oral hygienist for a professional teeth cleaning at least once per year.

4. Chew sugar-free gum after meals and when you want to freshen your breath.

5. Eat chocolate instead of hard, sticky or very brittle candy.

6. Drink water rather than fruit juice, energy drinks or soda.

7. Floss your teeth every day, especially before you go to bed at night.

8. Don’t chew ice: it’s a terrible habit that destroys teeth.

If you would like to keep your teeth beautiful and healthy – moreover, if you’d like to keep your teeth for life or as close to that as possible – then adhering to these tips and the following two is a great start!

Small Changes for Bigger Smiles # 9: Avoid Frequent Snacking

“Every time you eat, the pH level of your mouth drops, which is to say that it becomes more acidic. This is not only because most foods contain acid, but also because sugar and carbohydrates fuel bacterial growth. The byproducts these microorganisms produce are acidic,” says a dentist in Colorado Springs. “So, every time you eat, your dental enamel softens and becomes more vulnerable to cavities and acid erosion, which is why you should try to limit the amount of snacking you do throughout the day.”

Try to have three square meals a day with perhaps one afternoon snack to keep you going. Avoid energy drinks and limit the amount of coffee and sugar you consume between meals. Drink plenty of water instead and chew sugar-free gum to stimulate the production of saliva, which will wash away food debris and curtail bacterial growth. All of this can help prevent the need for new teeth.

Small Changes for Bigger Smiles # 10: Book an Appointment with Your Dentist

Avoiding the need for new teeth begins with the right lifestyle habits and good oral hygiene and ends with frequent professional care received from your oral hygienist and dentist. Routine dental appointments are crucial. You may be wholly unaware of any oral problems, such as cavities, decay or even gum disease and this is because they don’t typically present with any pain; especially in the beginning stages.

Your dentist will recognize the early signs of a wide variety of oral ailments and will provide treatment before they have a chance to progress to the point of doing permanent damage. Just because you don’t have a toothache doesn't mean you don’t have decay that could eventually cause you to need new teeth! So frequent professional attention is crucial for good lifelong oral health and a beautiful smile.

Dentists in Colorado Springs Explain 10 Smile-Preserving Changes You Could Make Today, PART 3

This four-part article series explains 10 changes anyone can make to their daily routine, lifestyle and habits that can help to extend the life and beautiful appearance of their teeth and gums.

Welcome to the final installment of this four-part article series on the changes you could make today to preserve long-term oral health. In our previous post, Part 2, dentists explained the following two changes that Colorado Springs residents should all make to their daily routines and habits:

1. Chew sugar-free gum after meals and when you want to freshen your breath. Try to choose sugar-free gum that contains Xylitol, because this helps to strengthen teeth and neutralize pH levels in your mouth after eating.

2. If you have a sweet tooth, eat chocolate instead of hard, sticky or very brittle candy.

We’ve covered half of the tips that could prevent you from needing new teeth earlier in life, so let’s take a look at the remaining five of 10…

Small Changes for Bigger Smiles # 6: If You’re Thirsty, Drink Water

Soda, fruit juice and energy drinks should NOT be viewed as thirst quenchers, say Colorado Springs dentists. They are packed with sugar and highly acidic, so if you find yourself thirsty, grab a cold glass of water. It’s much better for your body and it’s much better for your teeth. These beverages are treats and should be indulged in sparingly if you care to preserve smile health.

Small Changes for Bigger Smiles # 7: Floss Your Teeth!

Flossing removes the food, bacteria and plaque that accumulate between your teeth every day. It is an essential part of keeping your teeth clean and healthy and yet we see very few patients doing it frequently enough. It is then no wonder that the most common location tooth decay sets in is between the teeth.

“If you don’t floss your teeth you are leaving 35% of your tooth surfaces unclean and this can have serious long term consequences for your oral health,” say dental implant dentists. “Floss your teeth every day or else you run the risk of eventually needing new teeth!”

Small Changes for Bigger Smiles # 8: Stop Chewing Ice!

Whether you’re one of those people who, on a hot day, purposefully fish ice out of the freezer so that you can suck on it, or you like to crunch and chew your way through the ice in your soda, you’ve got to give this habit a rest! According to Colorado Springs dental implants surgeons, chewing ice does tremendous damage to the biting surfaces of your dentition and can actually end you up needing new teeth.

“We’ve seen the kind of damage ice can do to teeth and have had to perform several root canals and other restorative procedures to repair hairline cracks, fractures, chips and cracks caused by biting down on ice,” say dental healthcare professionals. “Your teeth are not intended to be able to manage something as hard and brittle as ice, so try to avoid chewing it as far as possible.”

Stay Tuned for Part 4

To read more about the small changes you could make today - changes that could keep your smile beautiful and help to prevent you from needing new teeth – stay tuned for the final installment of this four-part article series.

Colorado Springs Dentists Explain 10 Smile-Preserving Changes You Could Make Today, PART 2

This four-part article series explains 10 changes anyone can make to their daily routine, lifestyle and habits that can help to extend the life and beautiful appearance of their teeth and gums.

Welcome to the second installment of this four-part article series on the changes you could make today to ensure the long term health of your teeth and the long term beauty of your smile. In our previous post, Part 1, Colorado Springs dentists explained the following three changes that we should all make to our daily routines:

1. Brush your teeth for just a little bit longer each day. 20 Seconds per brush is just not sufficient enough to keep your teeth and gums free from the bacteria that cause cavities and gum disease.

2. Brush your tongue or make use of a tongue-scraper to remove bacteria and food debris from its tiny cracks and crannies. This will also help to keep your breath fresher for longer.

3. See your oral hygienist for a professional teeth cleaning at least once per year. It’s an investment that will help to keep your teeth beautifully clean and your mouth healthier.

Let’s continue looking at the various lifestyle changes you could make to prevent you from needing new teeth.

Small Changes for Bigger Smiles # 4: Chew Sugar-free Gum

If you don’t have time to brush your teeth after lunch, or you work closely with colleagues and clients and are self-conscious about the quality of your breath, you should keep a pack of sugar-free gum close at hand.

“Chewing gum doesn’t only camouflage bad breath; it actually plays a role in busting it altogether,” say Colorado Springs dental implant dentists. “By stimulating the production of saliva, chewing gum helps to wash away food debris that might otherwise encourage the growth of oral bacteria and taint your breath.”

Chewing gum that contains xylitol, in particular, is great for oral health because it helps to remineralize your teeth after an acidic meal. Acid softens your dental enamel, leaving it more vulnerable to erosion and so, chewing gum that contains xylitol helps to neutralize the PH levels in your mouth and strengthen your teeth.

Small Changes for Bigger Smiles # 5: Avoid Certain Candies

We all know that a diet high in sugar really isn’t for our oral health, nor is it great for our general health. But if you’ve got a sweet tooth there are certain compromises you can make to limit the impact upon the long-term health of your teeth and gums…

If sugar is your Achilles’ heel, opt for chocolate instead of hard candy, boiled sweets and chewy, sticky treats. Chocolate molecules are covered in fatty compounds, which reduces adhesion and helps your saliva to wash them off your teeth. Chewy, sticky candies – such as caramel, toffee and taffy – can get stuck in the cusps of your molars for much longer and where they can fuel bacterial growth. Hard candy and boiled sweets, on the other hand, can actually damage the enamel of your teeth if you bite down onto them.

“A lifelong addiction to this kind of candy can actually cause tooth decay and, eventually, the need for new teeth,” warn dental healthcare professionals in Colorado Springs.

Stay Tuned for Part 3

To read more about the small changes you could make today - changes that could keep your smile beautiful and youthful for much longer – stay tuned for the third installment of this four-part article series.

Dental Implants News, Colorado Springs: 10 Smile-Preserving Changes You Could Make Today, PART 1

This four-part article series explains 10 changes anyone can make to their daily routine, lifestyle and habits that can help to extend the life and beautiful appearance of their teeth and gums.

Your teeth are more than just tools for eating; a healthy smile is what makes you YOU! Unfortunately, as is most often the case, you don’t truly appreciate what you have until you lose it, which is why Colorado Springs dentists urge patients to take good lifelong care of their teeth. You don’t want to have to lose one or more of your pearly whites to appreciate just what a difference good oral health makes to your smile.

And so, in this four-part article series, we will be exploring the small changes we could make to our routine, lifestyle and habits today. These changes, while small, could help to ensure that we keep our teeth and gums in the best possible condition for life.

Let’s get started!

Small Changes for Bigger Smiles # 1: Brush Your Teeth for a Little Longer

“Most Colorado Springs residents only brush their teeth for a total of 35 seconds per day, when in fact you should brush your teeth for a full two minutes at a time,” say dental implants dentists. “The logic here is simple. The longer you brush your teeth for, the more plaque, food debris and bacteria you will remove, which won’t only help to keep your breath fresher for longer, but will also keep cavities at bay. Even if you find yourself pressed for time, try to brush your teeth for at least 30 seconds longer than you usually do. It could make a world of difference.”

Small Changes for Bigger Smiles # 2: Brush Your Tongue

“Stick your tongue out and have a good look at its surface. It’s very textured and full of small cracks and crannies where opportunistic oral bacteria can hide out. It is therefore just as important to give your tongue a good brush as it is to brush your teeth thoroughly,” say Colorado Springs dentists. “You can either make use of your toothbrush or invest in a specialized tongue scraper. Both will remove the bacteria and food that accumulate on the surface of your tongue throughout the day. This will improve your breath considerably and prevent oral bacteria from gaining a foothold in your mouth!”

Small Changes for Bigger Smiles # 3: Go for a Professional Cleaning

Pick up the phone, give your dentist’s office a call and book yourself in for a professional teeth cleaning with your oral hygienist. Even Colorado Springs residents with the most rigorous of home oral hygiene habits will require the far more thorough services of a hygienist at least once per year. Plaque, if left in place for too long, eventually solidifies to become what we call tartar.

While brushing and flossing can remove plaque from your teeth and gums, tartar needs to be scraped off using professional dental tools, because it’s a lot like cement. Tartar causes cavities, gingivitis, gum disease and eventually the need for dental implants. So, if you haven’t seen your oral hygienist in more than a year, it’s time to pick up the phone.

Stay Tuned for Part 2

To read more about the small changes you could make today - changes that could keep your smile beautiful and youthful for much longer – stay tuned for the second installment of this four-part article series.