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What To Let Your Dentist Know Before Oral Sedation Dentistry

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What To Let Your Dentist Know Before Oral Sedation Dentistry

Introduction:

We have compiled this article on “What To Let Your Dentist Know Before Oral Sedation Dentistry”. The reference links are at the bottom of the article.

[1]What Is Sedation Dentistry?

Sedation dentistry uses medication to help patients relax during dental procedures. It’s sometimes referred to as “sleep dentistry,” although that’s not entirely accurate. Patients are usually awake with the exception of those who are under general anesthesia.

The Levels Of Sedation Used Include:

  • Minimal sedation — you are awake but relaxed.
  • Moderate sedation (formerly called “conscious sedation”) — you may slur your words when speaking and not remember much of the procedure.
  • Deep sedation — you are on the edge of consciousness but can still be awakened.
  • General anesthesia — you are completely unconscious.

What Types Of Sedation Do We Provide In Dentistry?

Inhaled Minimal Sedation

You breathe nitrous oxide — otherwise known as “laughing gas” — combined with oxygen through a mask that’s placed over your nose. The gas helps you relax. Your dentist can control the amount of sedation you receive, and the gas tends to wear off quickly. This is the only form of sedation where you may be able to drive yourself home after the procedure.

Oral Sedation

Depending on the total dose given, oral sedation can range from minimal to moderate. For minimal sedation, you take a pill. Typically, the pill is Halcion, which is a member of the same drug family as Valium, and it’s usually taken about an hour before the procedure. The pill will make you drowsy, although you’ll still be awake.

A larger dose may be given to produce moderate sedation. This is the type of anesthesia most commonly associated with sedation dentistry. Some people become groggy enough from moderate oral sedation to actually fall asleep during the procedure. They usually can, though, be awakened with a gentle shake.

Who Can Have Sedation At The Dentist’s?

Sedation is most appropriate for people with a real fear or anxiety that is preventing them from going to the dentist.

  • Sedation dentistry may also be appropriate for people who:
  • have a low pain threshold
  • can’t sit still in the dentist’s chair
  • have very sensitive teeth
  • have a bad gag reflex
  • need a large amount of dental work completed

Sometimes, children are given sedation if they are terrified of going to the dentist or refuse to cooperate during the visit. Nitrous oxide tends to be safe in children, and just about any dentist can administer it. A smaller percentage of pediatric dentists are trained to give children oral sedation. Oral sedation can be safe when kept within the recommended dose for the child’s age and weight.

[2]When Is Sedation Required?

During dental procedures, sedation is required. Sedation will make sure that your child doesn’t experience pain during the procedure.

It’s sometimes required for those with special needs or behavioral disorders. The experience can be stressful to them and sedation can help calm them down.

Depending on your child’s level of anxiety, sedation might be required. For children that experience higher levels of phobias or anxiety, then a higher level of sedation might be given.

Sedation Defined

Dental anesthesia and sedation varies from mild to full sedation. Mild sedation means that the child is relaxed but awake.

Moderate sedation is where your child might start slurring their words when they speak. After the procedure, they might not remember what they said.

Full sedation is when your child is unconscious during the procedure. Deep sedation is when they’re aware but barely conscious.

When Do I Contact The Dentist?

Sedation is generally safe, but there are certain times that you’ll want to contact your dental office. If your child experiences excessive bleeding, pain, vomiting, or a fever, you’ll want to contact their dental office.

Can All Dentists Perform Sedation?

While many dentists can perform mild to moderate sedation, only a small number of dentists can perform full or deep sedation. Many dentists who perform deep or full sedation tend to be dental anesthesiologists or maxillofacial surgeons. If your dentist provides deep or full sedation, many states will require them to have a certification to do this.

Is Sedation Dentistry Safe?

When sedation dentistry is performed by qualified dentists, it’s safe. Explore your dentist’s qualifications and see how many sedation procedures they’ve performed. Your dentist will take your child’s health, weight, and age into account before providing sedation.

Let your dentist know about any medications or medical procedures that your child has. Speak with your dentist about any risks of sedation in advance and any questions that you have.

Conclusion:

Thank you for reading this article, and check back frequently for other dental health articles. Should you have any questions, please contact Apple Tree Dental today!

Article compiled by Apple Tree Dental

Article reference links

  1. https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/sedation-dentistry-can-you-really-relax-in-the-dentists-chair ↑

  2. https://kidsteethofky.com/blog/sedation-dentistry-for-children-what-you-need-to-know/ ↑

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Which Oral Sedation Medication Is Right For You?

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Which Oral Sedation Medication Is Right For You?

Introduction:

We have compiled this article on “Which Oral Sedation Medication Is Right For You?“. The reference links are at the bottom of the article.

[1]Oral sedation dentistry is a medical procedure involving the administration of sedative drugs via an oral route, generally to facilitate a dental procedure and reduce patients’ anxiety related to the experience. Oral sedation is one of the available methods of conscious sedation dentistry, along with inhalation sedation (e.g., nitrous oxide) and conscious intravenous sedation. Benzodiazepines are commonly used, specifically triazolam. Triazolam is commonly selected for its rapid onset and limited duration of effect.

An initial dose is usually taken approximately one hour before the dental appointment. Treatment may include additional dosing on the night proceeding the procedure, to mitigate anxiety-related insomnia. The procedure is generally recognized as safe, with the effective dosages being below levels sufficient to impair breathing.

Dental patients with generalized anxiety, belonephobia (fear of needles and sharp instruments), prior dental trauma, or generalized fear of the dentist can take oral medication in order to reduce their anxieties. A variety of single and incremental dose protocols are used to medicate the patient as early as the day before treatment. Medication additionally helps reduce memory or the sights and smells of the dental office to avoid recall of any trauma. The sedative effect allows more dentistry to be completed in fewer appointments as well as allowing complex procedures to be performed in less time.

[2]What Types Of Sedation Are Used In Dentistry?

The following types of sedation are used in dentistry:

Inhaled Minimal Sedation

You breathe nitrous oxide — otherwise known as “laughing gas” — combined with oxygen through a mask that’s placed over your nose. The gas helps you relax. Your dentist can control the amount of sedation you receive, and the gas tends to wear off quickly. This is the only form of sedation where you may be able to drive yourself home after the procedure.

Oral Sedation

Depending on the total dose given, oral sedation can range from minimal to moderate. For minimal sedation, you take a pill. Typically, the pill is Halcion, which is a member of the same drug family as Valium, and it’s usually taken about an hour before the procedure. The pill will make you drowsy, although you’ll still be awake. A larger dose may be given to produce moderate sedation. This is the type of anesthesia most commonly associated with sedation dentistry. Some people become groggy enough from moderate oral sedation to actually fall asleep during the procedure. They usually can, though, be awakened with a gentle shake.

IV Moderate Sedation

You receive the sedative drug through a vein, so it goes to work more quickly. This method allows the dentist to continually adjust the level of sedation.

Deep Sedation And General Anesthesia

You will get medications that will make you either almost unconscious or totally unconscious — deeply asleep — during the procedure. While you are under general anesthesia, you cannot easily be awakened until the effects of the anesthesia wear off or are reversed with medication.

Regardless of which type of sedation you receive, you’ll also typically need a local anesthetic — numbing medication at the site where the dentist is working in the mouth — to relieve pain if the procedure causes any discomfort.

Who Can Have Sedation At The Dentists?

Sedation is most appropriate for people with a real fear or anxiety that is preventing them from going to the dentist.

Sedation dentistry may also be appropriate for people who:

  • have a low pain threshold
  • can’t sit still in the dentist’s chair
  • have very sensitive teeth
  • have a bad gag reflex
  • need a large amount of dental work completed

Sometimes, children are given sedation if they are terrified of going to the dentist or refuse to cooperate during the visit. Nitrous oxide tends to be safe in children, and just about any dentist can administer it. A smaller percentage of pediatric dentists are trained to give children oral sedation. Oral sedation can be safe when kept within the recommended dose for the child’s age and weight.

Can Any Dentist Perform Sedation?

Most dentists can administer minimal sedation (such as nitrous oxide or pills). An increasing number of dentists can give moderate sedation. However, only a small percentage of dentists who have completed the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) program in deep sedation and general anesthesia can use these more complex techniques. These dentists are typically oral and maxillofacial surgeons and dentist anesthesiologists. Some dentists use a dentist anesthesiologist, who is specially trained to give all levels of sedation and anesthesia to both children and adults.

Conclusion:

Thank you for reading this article, and check back frequently for other dental health articles. Should you have any questions, please contact Apple Tree Dental today!

Article compiled by Apple Tree Dental

Article reference links

  1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oral_sedation_dentistry ↑

  2. https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/sedation-dentistry-can-you-really-relax-in-the-dentists-chair ↑

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Oral Health: A Window To Your Overall Health

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Oral Health: A Window To Your Overall Health

Introduction:

We have compiled this article on “Oral Health: A Window To Your Overall Health”. The reference links are at the bottom of the article.

[1]What’s The Connection Between Oral Health And Overall Health?

Like other areas of the body, your mouth teems with bacteria — mostly harmless. But your mouth is the entry point to your digestive and respiratory tracts, and some of these bacteria can cause disease.

Normally the body’s natural defenses and good oral health care, such as daily brushing and flossing, keep bacteria under control. However, without proper oral hygiene, bacteria can reach levels that might lead to oral infections, such as tooth decay and gum disease.

Also, certain medications — such as decongestants, antihistamines, painkillers, diuretics and antidepressants — can reduce saliva flow. Saliva washes away food and neutralizes acids produced by bacteria in the mouth, helping to protect you from microbes that multiply and lead to disease.

Studies suggest that oral bacteria and the inflammation associated with a severe form of gum disease (periodontitis) might play a role in some diseases. And certain diseases, such as diabetes and HIV/AIDS, can lower the body’s resistance to infection, making oral health problems more severe.

What Conditions Can Be Linked To Oral Health?

Your oral health might contribute to various diseases and conditions, including:

Endocarditis. This infection of the inner lining of your heart chambers or valves (endocardium) typically occurs when bacteria or other germs from another part of your body, such as your mouth, spread through your bloodstream and attach to certain areas in your heart.

Cardiovascular disease. Although the connection is not fully understood, some research suggests that heart disease, clogged arteries and stroke might be linked to the inflammation and infections that oral bacteria can cause.

Pregnancy and birth complications. Periodontitis has been linked to premature birth and low birth weight.

Pneumonia. Certain bacteria in your mouth can be pulled into your lungs, causing pneumonia and other respiratory diseases.

Certain Conditions Also Might Affect Your Oral Health, Including:

Diabetes. By reducing the body’s resistance to infection, diabetes puts your gums at risk. Gum disease appears to be more frequent and severe among people who have diabetes.

Research shows that people who have gum disease have a harder time controlling their blood sugar levels. Regular periodontal care can improve diabetes control.

HIV/AIDS. Oral problems, such as painful mucosal lesions, are common in people who have HIV/AIDS.

Osteoporosis. This bone-weakening disease is linked with periodontal bone loss and tooth loss. Certain drugs used to treat osteoporosis carry a small risk of damage to the bones of the jaw.

Alzheimer’s disease. Worsening oral health is seen as Alzheimer’s disease progresses.

Other conditions that might be linked to oral health include eating disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, certain cancers and an immune system disorder that causes dry mouth (Sjogren’s syndrome).

Tell your dentist about the medications you take and about changes in your overall health, especially if you’ve recently been ill or you have a chronic condition, such as diabetes.

Certain Conditions Also Might Affect Your Oral Health, Including:

[2]Diabetes. By reducing the body’s resistance to infection, diabetes puts your gums at risk. Gum disease appears to be more frequent and severe among people who have diabetes.

Research shows that people who have gum disease have a harder time controlling their blood sugar levels. Regular periodontal care can improve diabetes control.

HIV/AIDS. Oral problems, such as painful mucosal lesions, are common in people who have HIV/AIDS.

Osteoporosis. This bone-weakening disease is linked with periodontal bone loss and tooth loss. Certain drugs used to treat osteoporosis carry a small risk of damage to the bones of the jaw.

Alzheimer’s disease. Worsening oral health is seen as Alzheimer’s disease progresses.

Other conditions that might be linked to oral health include eating disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, certain cancers and an immune system disorder that causes dry mouth (Sjogren’s syndrome).

Tell your dentist about the medications you take and about changes in your overall health, especially if you’ve recently been ill or you have a chronic condition, such as diabetes.

How Can I Protect My Oral Health?

  • To protect your oral health, practice good oral hygiene daily.
  • Brush your teeth at least twice a day for two minutes each time. Use a soft-bristled brush and fluoride toothpaste.
  • Floss daily.
  • Use mouthwash to remove food particles left after brushing and flossing.
  • Eat a healthy diet and limit sugary food and drinks.
  • Replace your toothbrush every three to four months, or sooner if bristles are splayed or worn.
  • Schedule regular dental checkups and cleanings.
  • Avoid tobacco use.

Also, contact your dentist as soon as an oral health problem arises. Taking care of your oral health is an investment in your overall health.

Conclusion:

Thank you for reading this article, and check back frequently for other dental health articles. Should you have any questions, please contact Apple Tree Dental today!

Article compiled by Apple Tree Dental

Article reference links

  1. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/dental/art-20047475 ↑

  2. https://www.self.com/story/oral-health-a-window-to-your-overall-health ↑

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2022 – Benefits of Improving Your Oral Hygiene Health

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2022 – Benefits of Improving Your Oral Hygiene Health

Introduction:

We have compiled this article on “2022 – Benefits of Improving Your Oral Hygiene Health.” The reference links are at the bottom of the article.

[1]Significant advances in scientific knowledge and the commercialization of oral health products have contributed to the improvements in the oral health of millions of people across the world over the past four decades. This period has seen the introduction of more advanced toothpastes with optimal levels of fluoride to prevent caries, as well new oral care products that address a range of people’s needs, including prevention of early periodontal disease (gingivitis) and reduction in tooth sensitivity. GSK Consumer Healthcare is at the forefront of innovation in oral care and in fostering oral health education with the aim of helping billions of people around the world to achieve better oral health.

Herein, we review the remarkable progress that the dental industry has made in preventing and treating oral conditions and the continuing burden of these diseases worldwide. We also discuss the role that industry can continue to play in positively influencing oral health outcomes, both through scientific research as well as partnerships with patients, dental professionals, academia and non-governmental organizations.

The Burden Of Oral Disease

The act of twice daily toothbrushing has increased from around 30–62% of people (varying by country) in the mid-1990s to around 50–72% of people in 2010. However, despite oral diseases being considered largely preventable through such a simple self-care intervention, their incidence continues to remain stubbornly high. Caries and periodontal disease are amongst the most prevalent non-communicable diseases globally.

Lifestyle choices (including a worrying growing consumer trend to choose non-fluoride toothpastes), the continuing shift in diets towards foods that are high in refined sugar (or contain hidden complex sugars), repeated snacking and a trend towards more acidic foods and drinks that can dissolve the mineral structure of enamel are challenging oral health worldwide.

The Impact Of Poor Oral Health On The Individual

The World Dental Federation (FDI), an organization headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, that represents dental professionals around the world, defines oral health as “multi-faceted and includes the ability to speak, smile, smell, taste, touch, chew, swallow and convey a range of emotions through facial expressions with confidence and without pain, discomfort and disease of the craniofacial complex [head, face, and oral cavity]”.

This 2016 definition encapsulates a change from oral health being the absence of disease to one that includes physical, mental and social wellbeing – factors important in people’s day-to-day life. Oral health is a significant component of quality of life and is an important indication for people’s health status. The impact of oral diseases on quality of life can include physical, social and psychological factors such as pain, discomfort, functional limitations, social life, eating, exercising, insomnia, irritability and low self-esteem.

[2]Oral health is a key indicator of overall health, well-being and quality of life. It encompasses a range of diseases and conditions that include dental caries, periodontal (gum) disease, tooth loss, oral cancer, oro-dental trauma, noma and birth defects such as cleft lip and palate. The Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 estimated that oral diseases affect close to 3.5 billion people worldwide. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, cancers of the lip and oral cavity are among the top 20 most common cancers worldwide, with nearly 180 000 deaths each year.

Most oral diseases and conditions share modifiable risk factors with the leading noncommunicable diseases (cardiovascular diseases, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes). These risk factors include tobacco use, alcohol consumption and unhealthy diets high in free sugars, all of which are increasing at the global level. There is a proven relationship between oral and general health. It is reported, for example, that diabetes is linked with the development and progression of periodontitis. Moreover, there is a causal link between high consumption of sugars and diabetes, obesity and dental caries.

Conclusion:

Thank you for reading this article, and check back frequently for other dental health articles. Should you have any questions, please contact Apple Tree Dental today!

Article compiled by Apple Tree Dental

Article reference links

  1. https://www.nature.com/articles/d42473-021-00517-5 ↑

  2. https://www.who.int/health-topics/oral-health#tab=tab_1 ↑

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