Sedation: The Power of a healthy mouth and a confident smile
When it comes right down to it, we dentists are all in the profession of smiles: Big, toothy, sparkling, healthy smiles. And what a wonderful profession it is. Stanley Gordon West, the late Minnesota author of Growing an Inch, coined the expression, “Smile and the world smiles with you.” That’s never been truer, or more necessary than it is today.
Obstetricians tell us babies display so-called reflex smiles in utero. By the time newborns are between six and 12 weeks old – many months before they utter “mama” or “dada” – their first real smiles emerge. It’s nature’s way of helping infants immediately connect to those in the world around them. How very smart nature is – many studies have demonstrated that smiling makes us feel good and live longer. Smiling helps lower blood pressure, fight stress, and increase mental clarity. Conversely, the tens of millions of Americans who are hesitant to smile, or never do, because of oral pain or because they are ashamed of their broken, missing or stained teeth miss out on the myriads of physical and mental health benefits of a healthy smile.
Dr. Nasrin Mojaver and her team are uniquely enabled to turn a closed-lipped, unhealthy mouth into one that radiates warmth, self-confidence, connection and, most importantly, good oral hygiene.
WHAT WILL YOU EXPERIENCE AFTER TAKING SEDATIVES?
Most people feel calmer and more relaxed after taking sedative medication. But it’s important to understand that these drugs are used to produce a sedation experience that can range from mild to moderate. In the dental office, you need to be responsive and able to answer questions. General anesthesia – where patients are asleep – is only provided in the hospital.
Nitrous oxide sedation and some forms of oral sedation fall within the mildest category of sedation. Patients may feel tingling or have a sense of well-being. However, they remain alert. Once inhalation is discontinued the effects end also, often within seconds. With oral sedation, a more profound effect can be achieved but it takes a bit longer to work and to wear off. You’re still responding but you’re not going to remember it. Nice.
When patients are comfortable – but still awake – the dentist and dental team can provide more care in less time, without sacrificing either patient safety or clinical quality.
WHAT KIND OF MEDICATIONS WILL BE USED?
The type of sedative, or sedatives, Dr. Nasrin Mojaver prescribes depends on the procedure being performed, your medical condition and any other drugs you may take. In many cases doctors use a class of sedative medication called benzodiazepines. Examples of benzodiazepines include diazepam, lorazepam and triazolam. In general, the drugs are extremely safe and pose little risk of adverse reaction with other medications. Benzodiazepines are the most prescribed sedatives used today.
WHAT TYPE OF SIDE EFFECTS DO THESE MEDICATIONS HAVE?
Just like the insert on every medication, cold syrup, or herbal supplement says, there is always something you should be aware of when taking anything into your body. Fortunately, with the sedation medications used by our dentists, you won’t find the usual suspects – no addiction and very few unpleasant side effects.
There are a few to be aware of. Some are welcome like amnesia, some not so much. On rare occasions, people experience nausea with nitrous oxide or hiccups with oral sedation.
In addition to creating a feeling of deep relaxation, sedative medication may produce other positive effects. You may feel the hours pass very quickly or otherwise retain little memory of your time in the dental office. You’ll experience a decrease in the sensation of pain or discomfort.
HOW DO I PREPARE FOR MY SEDATION APPOINTMENT?
For nitrous oxide only, there is little for you to prepare. However, if you are having oral sedation, you may receive a prescription for a sedative to take the night before your first appointment to guarantee a good night’s sleep and a complete list of pre-treatment instructions. Medications given this way are absorbed into the bloodstream quickly, so it is a preferred option by many dentists.
Before you know it, you’re in the car and on the way home!
WHAT HAPPENS ON THE DAY OF TREATMENT?
You can drive yourself to a visit for nitrous oxide only. If you have oral sedation, you’ll need a friend or loved one to take you to the office and take you home. You’ll be directed not to eat or drink six hours prior to your appointment unless otherwise directed by your dentist. Your health history can affect your before and aftercare plans, especially for diabetics and smokers, so make sure that Dr. Nasrin Mojaver knows about any medical conditions you may have. Additional medications will be provided to create the ultimate in relaxation. Your experienced Sedation team will monitor you throughout your entire visit. Dr. Mojaver is appropriately trained and can perform a variety of protocols customized to your physiological and pharmacological needs.
Sedation appointments will require you to take half a day or a full day off work. Be sure to stay hydrated and drink lots of fluids after your appointment. You should not drive or operate heavy machinery for 24 hours. The following day you will feel completely rejuvenated without any residual sedative effects.
HOW LONG DO I NEED TO RECOVER AFTER MY SEDATION APPOINTMENT?
There is no set amount of recovery time because every patient is different. However, for nitrous oxide only, your recovery is immediate. For oral sedation, many patients begin to feel more alert immediately after the appointment is over. Many sedation patients are happy to report little to no pain the day after their treatment.
IS SEDATION DENTISTRY ONLY FOR THE FEARFUL?
Why not enjoy the benefits of modern medicine and exercise control over how you get treatment? Many people who are not afraid of the dentist put off getting needed treatment because it will take a long time and/or be uncomfortable. Although sedation is often promoted as a panacea for anxious patients, sedation dentistry offers benefits to a wider range of patients than just dental phonics.
Here’s what your dental experience could look like: take one day off from work instead of leaving early three times. Have a friend or family member drive you to the dental office where you relax in a special, more comfortable dental chair designed for sedation. You’ll have a warm blanket over you while you wait for the medication to take effect. Then, experience treatment in complete comfort!
HOW SAFE IS SEDATION DENTISTRY?
Dr. Nasrin Mojaver has learned state-of-the-art techniques which are regarded as some of the safest in dentistry.
So even if sedation is safe, how can treatment under sedation be safer than under no sedation? Well, according to research, the stress of dental fear can cause adverse cardiac events and exacerbate a wide range of existing diseases.
Patients may react differently. To make this experience as safe and effective as possible, the dentist will ask a series of questions about overall health and other prescriptions. It’s important to answer questions as accurately as possible to ensure a safe outcome. Besides a careful history and possible consultation with the medical doctor, Dr. Nasrin Mojaver and clinical staff will monitor the patient throughout the procedure and ensure that you leave the office with a companion or escort.
SEDATION CAN CREATE A FEAR FREE DENTAL APPOINTMENT FOR DIFFERENT INSTANCES
How Sedation Reduces Fear for Patients?
The medications reduce cognitive functioning (awareness), induce calm and some block memory.
Sedation dentistry can eliminate all those fears for most patients. Instead of feeling trapped in a fearful situation many patients report that the procedure seemed like it only lasted minutes when it could have been hours long. A good experience with sedation will make patients more likely come back when they need further work performed. This also helps to create a positive association with going to the dentist instead of one based in fear.
Patients That Can Benefit Most from Sedation:
Patients with high dental fear or anxiety, who have put off seeking treatment previously because of fear, with physical limitations, jaw trouble who have trouble keeping their mouth open for long periods of time, low pain threshold, severe gag reflex, can’t sit still, need a lot of dental work completed, sensitive teeth and Children.
Sedation Helps Your Dentist Do a Better Job
When a patient is anxious, they can be very difficult to treat. Their anxiety might cause movements and reactions that can cause them harm and make performing procedures difficult. These issues can make the patient even more anxious, and what should be a simple procedure becomes more complicated.
A sedated patient is much easier to work on since they are relaxed and more cooperative. The dentist can then work faster, more efficiently, and provide a higher quality of work. The result is a more positive experience for both the patient and the dentist.
Sedation Dentistry Is Changing Lives
Sedation dentistry is revolutionizing the way people feel about going to the dentist. Many of those who put off seeking help for dental issues because of fear, sometimes for decades, are now able to receive the treatment they need without feeling afraid. This allows patients to receive treatment before the problem becomes worse and a potentially life-threatening issue.
Drilling Sound – The sound of the drill can be unsettling especially if they are worried it might be used in their procedure.
Tool Fear – The dentist office is filled with sharp tools that can be intimidating.
Medication Effects Such as Big Lip – People fear the effects of the Novocain and anesthesia. The thought of having to deal with a fat lip or feeling groggy can be off-putting.
Helplessness – Patients can feel trapped and unable to move while the dentist works on their mouth with sharp tools.
Shots – Many people fear shots. Large dental needles going into the mouth can be very anxiety inducing.
Fear of Medication Not Working – People can be afraid of the medicine not working well enough and that they will be in significant pain from the procedure.
Gagging – Some patients fear they will choke or gag on the tools and water used by the dentist.
Self-Conscious – Patients can feel self-conscious with how close a dentist must get to them and that their personal space is being violated. They might also fear that they have bad breath or did a bad job of brushing.
If You Have Dental Phobia, It Is Critical You Talk to Your Dentist
What are the levels of Sedation?
Minimal – A minimally reduced level of cognitive functioning. The patient is able to breathe on their own and respond normally to tactile stimulation and verbal command.
Moderate – A drug-induced reduction of consciousness during which patients can respond to verbal commands and tactile stimulation.
Deep Sedation – A drug-induced reduction of consciousness during which patients cannot easily be aroused but can be by pain or repeated stimulation.
General Anesthesia – The patient is put to sleep and cannot easily be aroused even by pain.
Let Dr. Nasrin Mojaver know your medical history and any medications you are currently taking.
To avoid potential emergency situations your dentist will be monitoring your vital signs to make sure you are responding well to the sedation.
Monitoring should include Oxygenation – Oxygenation saturation. Ventilation – CO2 and respiration rate. Circulation – Heart rate, rhythm, and blood pressure. Temperature – Body temperature. Documentation – Documentation should be kept for all drugs, dosages, and administration times. Data from the monitoring devices should be recorded continually.
SEEING YOUR DENTIST REGUALRY WILL HELP YOU AVOID HEALTH PROBLEMS AND SAVES YOUR TEETH.
Having a full set of teeth has more advantages than you might think. Many problems develop once you lose even one tooth. By taking the proper measures to keep your teeth you can avoid issues that can significantly impact your quality of life.
Benefits of Keeping Your Teeth;
Your teeth support each other.
A full toothed smile increases confidence.
Chewing is much easier.
Reduced risk of infections, gum disease, tooth decay and bone loss.
Massive cost savings compared to treatments for issues related to tooth loss.
Saves you pain.
What Happens When You Lose a Tooth?
Structural Breakdown; Teeth rely on each other for support. Like books on a shelf, they lean on each other. Remove one and the books fall. What happens next is that the teeth that used to fit together with the opposing jaw (top teeth fitting into the lower teeth) for chewing, are getting hit where they shouldn’t be. The top, biting surface of the tooth is built for force, crushing, and tearing. When the tooth tips, it’s like constantly stepping on the side of your foot instead of the bottom. Your knees, ankles and hips will all be damaged.
Finally, losing a tooth causes irreversible jawbone damage. The jaw is also designed to support the tooth. When a tooth is removed, the jaw is no longer receiving the stimulation it needs, and it begins to deteriorate. This loss of jawbone strength can cause further tooth loss and difficulty in replacement methods.
You Could Lose Your Smile and Look Older; Not having a tooth will change how the skin drapes over your jawbone and facial muscles. This will cause facial sagging and create an aged look. Gaps in teeth can affect your smile and potentially cause you to not want to smile at all. These changes in your appearance can significantly hurt your self-confidence and interfere with laughing and joyful expression.
Extra Space Invites Bacteria, as discussed earlier, your teeth work together in a delicate balance and support each other. Losing a tooth throws off the balance. This can create gaps that food and bacteria can build up in, making it difficult to clean. This can lead to gum disease and bone loss.
Eating Difficulty and Limited Food Choice; Losing teeth makes eating more difficult. This may cause you to stop eating foods as they become more difficult to chew. This may not only limit your choice of food but keep you from obtaining important nutrients in your diet. Not being able to properly chew your food can also lead to digestive strain.
Speech Change; Tooth loss causes speech to become more difficult. Speech is a very sophisticated process and any kind of change in your mouth will have an impact. Sometimes speech change can be significant which can greatly impact your self-confidence and ability to communicate.
Headaches; We mentioned the collapse of the bite above – when the top teeth don’t fit into the bottom teeth the way they should. Not only does this cause undue wear, but it can also create stress on the jaw and facial muscles. These stresses can cause pain in the jaw and face as well as headaches.
Make your appointment with a Pearl Cosmetic and Family Dentistry office now and find your new smile.
No matter how long you’ve put off care, come back. Dr Nasrin Mojaver and her team are waiting to welcome you.”