Our Technology

Sedation

What if you could have all the dentistry that you have been putting off for years in one or two comfortable visits? What if you could finally receive all the treatment while sleeping, free of fear and pain?

We specialize in Sedation Dentistry and Sleep Dentistry, treating people with dental phobias and anxieties, offering a number of different types of sedation dentistry. These include administering oral sedation, a pill, and nitrous oxide (laughing gas). We will talk with you to understand your concerns and determine what will best meet your needs in order for you to feel comfortable and receive the best possible dental care that is safe and free of stress.

 

What is Sedation Dentistry or Sleep Dentistry?

The patient is given oral medication about one hour before your appointment. The medicine puts you in a light state of sedation and you sleep through your dental appointment. It is Safe! When you awaken your dental treatment is completed.

You may need someone to drive you to and from your appointment. Once you arrive, you are allowed to rest comfortably in a warm, quiet room under a cozy blanket. During the entire time you are here, we will closely monitor you to ensure your safety.

Complex dental treatments that often require six or more appointments can be done in as little as one, all while you sleep!

 

Oral Conscious Sedation

If the idea of going to the dentist for a procedure brings on feelings of fear or anxiety there are options to ease the anxiety. Oral conscious sedation is as easy as taking an aspirin and you will feel relaxed and at ease. Oral conscious sedation does not “knock you out” like some other forms of anesthesia. You will remain awake during your procedure, but you will be in a heightened state of relaxation. It is also possible that you will not remember part, or all, of your procedure.

Oral conscious sedation is extremely safe and easy. It is much less expensive than other forms of sedation, and you will be able to talk and breathe on your own during the procedure. It also makes long or complex procedures seem shorter, allowing you to have all of your work done in a single visit. As an added precaution a local anesthetic will be given to the area that is being worked on to ensure that there is no pain. You will need to have someone drive you to and from the office if you use oral conscious sedation for your safety.

 

Nitrous Oxide

Nitrous Oxide, known to many as laughing gas, is the most commonly used form of sedation in dentistry. It is administered by having the patient inhale the gas, which is carefully monitored by your doctor. You will fall into a euphoric state and feel completely relaxed. All feelings of fear and anxiety fade away, leaving you to sit back peacefully while your dental procedure is performed. In most cases, all dental work can be completed in one visit while you are sedated.

Nitrous oxide sedation is very safe and effective. Once the procedure is over the nitrous oxide will wear off fairly quickly, and you will probably be able to drive yourself home and return to your daily activities.

You will need to have a preliminary visit with your dentist to make sure that you are an eligible candidate for nitrous sedation. If you have been worried about your next dental visit it’s time to stop! Ask us about sedation dentistry and schedule your appointment today.

Don’t wait any longer to have the necessary dental work performed because you are nervous. Ask your dentist about oral conscious sedation to see if it is right for you.

 

Are you a candidate for sedation?

If you have anxiety or fear about going to the dentist you are a candidate for sedation dentistry. If you have a fear of pain, have had a traumatic dental experience in the past, or the sounds and smells of a dental office make you nauseous, sedation dentistry can help you get over your anxiety.

Some people have physical reasons, like a bad gag reflex or very sensitive teeth, which make them a candidate for sedation dentistry as well. If you are not sure if you are a candidate ask your dentist.

 

Will I be unconscious?

No, but you will be in a deep state of relaxation during your treatment. You will still be able to breathe on your own and communicate, but you will not feel any pain or anxiety. You may not even remember the procedure afterward.

 

How long will I be sedated?

Sedation can last from about 2-6 hours depending on the strength of sedative you are given and how long your procedure takes.

 

Will I be monitored?

Yes, at all times during your sedation someone will be with you. We also monitor your vitals to make sure they remain at a normal level. Safety is of the utmost importance to us.

 

Are there any long-term effects of sedation?

No. You may feel a little groggy and “out of it” after some forms of sedation, but after a few hours you will feel like yourself again. You will need to have someone drive you home from your appointment in these cases.

 

What procedures can be performed under sedation?

Just about any procedure can be performed with sedation. The sedation is not for the procedure itself, but for the anxiety that accompanies the procedure. Ask your dentist if sedation is available for a particular procedure.

 

How many appointments will I need to complete my dental work?

In most cases it only takes two appointments. The first appointment will be a consultation to check your health history and make sure you are a candidate for sedation. The next appointment will be to perform the necessary procedures. This can usually be done in one appointment but may require a follow-up visit.

 

Will my insurance cover sedation?

In most cases, it will not be covered by your insurance provider. We will review your insurance coverage and let you know if it is covered or not. If it is not covered, we will let you know the cost and, if necessary, we can put together a financing plan for you.

 

Waterlase

Patented Technology Hydrokinetic

Lasers have become the standard of care for many surgical and cosmetic procedures such as LASIK, wrinkle removal, hair removal, and many others. Waterlase® Dentistry uses a patented technology that combines YSGG laser energy and water spray in a process called HYDROKINETIC ™, to perform a wide range of dental procedures on teeth, gums and bones with comfort. The benefits – dentists use fewer injections and anesthesia, decreasing patient anxiety and providing a more relaxing dental experience.

Waterlase® was approved for hard tissue procedures in 1998 and has since been approved for numerous additional dental procedures. Thousands of dentists worldwide have performed millions of procedures to cut teeth, bone, and gum tissue with less trauma, and perform procedures that cannot be done with traditional tools such as a drill and scalpel. Your specialist Waterlase® dentist will determine what type of treatment is right for your needs.

 

Waterlase® Benefits

Heat, vibration, and pressure are the main causes of pain associated with the use of a traditional dental drill. By cutting hard and soft tissue (teeth and gums) with Waterlase®, the tissue does not generate heat, vibration or pressure. In fact, many dental procedures can be performed with fewer injections, less need for anesthesia, less use of a drill and fewer numb lips! Also, when using Waterlase® in periodontal procedures, bleeding, postoperative pain, inflammation and the need for pain medication in many cases is reduced.

Accuracy and precision – with Waterlase® we are also able to remove decay of tooth enamel (the hardest substance in the body), bone and gum tissue precisely without affecting the surrounding areas. This preserves and keeps more of the healthy tooth structure.

Reduced trauma – high-speed drills can cause cracks and fractures in the teeth that eventually cause future dental problems. Waterlase® reduces damage to healthy parts of the tooth and minimizes trauma.

Best cavity fillings – Preparations for Waterlase® cavities can increase the strength of adhesion of tooth-colored restorations, resulting in longer-lasting restorations.

Less bleeding and swelling – Due to its smooth action and conservative cutting and coagulation ability, Waterlase performs many soft tissue procedures (gum) with little or no bleeding and less postoperative swelling.

Fewer visits to the dentist – Because often you do not need injections or anesthesia, a dentist who uses Waterlase® cavity preparations can perform in all areas of the mouth in one visit. This technology also offers Waterlase® trained in the ability to perform many procedures that were previously referred to specialist dentists.

Versatility – Waterlase® is extremely versatile. It can be used for a wide range of procedures on hard and soft tissues. Since the removal of caries, cavity preparation, root canals, smile design, surgical procedures gums and bones, and many others.

 

Panorex

A panorex is a very impressive piece of imaging machinery in that it is capable of identifying many issues and structures that a normal x-ray is not. Initially, you will sit in a chair with your chin on a small ledge. Once positioned in the machine, it will rotate around your entire head taking a full 360-degree view of the teeth, head, sinuses, and bones.

The ability to view the full structure of your head as a whole is very informative to the dentist. It will allow us to see any potential problems and make sure that everything is functioning as it should be. The panorex is capable of viewing specific types of structural problems, infections or asymmetry among many others.

 

Digital X-Ray

Digital x-rays are quickly becoming adopted by a large percentage of the dental industry. A digital x-ray allows the dentist to take an image of the tooth or teeth and put it into an imaging program. Within this imaging program, there are a number of tools that will allow the dentist to take a very close look at the teeth and surrounding structures with amazing accuracy. As a benefit to the patient, the digital x-ray also provides nearly 80% less radiation than a standard x-ray. This is due to the fact that the digital version of the x-ray is much more sensitive to this radiation and has been specifically designed with the patient in mind.

 

Oral Cancer Screenings

Oral cancer screenings are a very important part of the dental visit for the patient. With the advances in modern technology, we are now able to pinpoint the start of a potential problem much earlier in its evolution. The ability to do so is extremely important in being able to treat any issues prior to them becoming a major irreversible problem.

The oral cancer screening is often completed with an ultraviolet light or similar device that allows us to view issues that can’t always be detected by the human eye under normal conditions.

Certain lifestyle choices can have a great impact on the health of tissues and your overall health in the mouth. If you are a smoker or heavy drinker, make sure to get regular screenings when you visit the dentist.

 

Intraoral Camera

The intraoral camera is an amazing diagnostic tool for viewing different angles in the mouth that we would not have been able to just a few years ago. The camera gives us the ability to view the entire mouth on a monitor so that we can get a closer look at any potential issues or problems that may arise. In addition, the patient will have the ability to see for themselves first-hand the same images we are seeing. These digital images are also excellent for gaining procedure acceptance from insurance companies.