St. Louis Sedation, Sleep & Special Needs Dentistry :: The Dental Anesthesia Center

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How Long Will the Effects of Novocaine Last?

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Novocaine is a local anesthetic that is generally used in dental treatments or small surgeries.

It is ideal for this type of procedures because it has a short-lived effect and can be concentrated in small areas. It’s effect will typically last between 30 and 90 minutes, depending on how the practitioner uses it.

dentist performing procedure

If you are about to have a procedure with Novocaine here is what to expect.

What is Novocaine?

Novocaine is a brand of the local anesthetic procaine, usually used for uncomplicated procedures. It numbs a small localized area, allowing the doctor to perform surgery.

The types of procedures that require the use of Novocaine vary from dental care to small surgery, such as dermatology, ophthalmology, etc. Your doctor will most probably administer this anesthetic when treating a cavity, removing a wart or collecting tissue for biopsy.

A Short History of Novocaine

Novocaine has revolutionized the medical world at the beginning of the 20th century, becoming the first synthetic local anesthetic to be used in the United States. It has allowed doctors to perfect their procedures and increase the quality of treatment received by the patients.

Novocaine replaced cocaine as the local anesthetic, and it had fewer side effects than the drug. In the last decade, with new synthetic anesthesia being introduced, Novocaine lost its popularity, but plenty of dentists and doctors continue to use it.

How Long Do the Effects of Novocaine Last?

If you are worried that Novocaine will not numb you throughout your procedure, it is important to note that while it might be the shortest acting local anesthetic nowadays, your dentist can make it to last longer by administering it together with epinephrine (adrenaline).

The dentist will increase the dosage if needed, or switch to a different drug in case Novocaine is no longer helping.

Novocaine by itself will typically last about 30 minutes while paired with epinephrine it can last up to 90 minutes. Its effects begin 9-10 minutes after being administered through an injection in the tissue.

What Factors Could Influence How Long Novocaine Lasts?

The main factor that dictates how long the drug’s effect will last is the dosage. Your sedation dentist will calculate it for the size of the area that needs to be numbed, how many nerves are present in that area and whether they will use epinephrine or not.

If the Novocaine injection doesn’t seem to work, the dosage will be increased, or the injection will be made in a different area. The doctor might also choose to use something else.

The bottom line is this: Novocaine is a widely used local anesthetic because it is generally stable and safe for patients. Its prolonged effects, when paired with epinephrine, allow it to be used for a broad range of treatments while having minimal side effects.

If you have additional question, don’t hesitate to give us a call at (314) 862-7844.

5 Questions to Ask Before Your First Dental Sedation Appointment

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Here are 5 questions you should ask before your sedation appointment.

For sufferers of dental anxiety, movement disorders, low pain tolerance, and high sensitivity, going to the dentist can be excruciating. Fortunately, these people can turn to dental sedation to get the oral care they need. If this describes you, it is best to do your due diligence before committing to a specific provider in St. Louis. Here are 5 questions you should ask before your sedation appointment.

discussing sedation with dentist

Does Sedation Make Sense For Me?

Though sedation dentistry is a safe and effective practice, it is unnecessary for some patients. If you do not have issues with your regular dental visits, you should probably stick with conventional appointments. The most common situations where you should consider sedation are if you suffer from anxiety, high sensitivity, low pain tolerance, or an involuntary movement disorder. Additionally, patients opt for this type of dentistry when undergoing lengthy procedures. If none of those situations describe yours, your dentist will likely decide that sedation is not right for you.

What Kind of Sedation Will You Use?

In general, dentists use three types of sedation. They are as follows.

Oral – This usually means taking an anti-anxiety pill like Valium and leads to low-level sedation.

Nitrous Oxide – For this sedation method, the dentist will have you inhale a gas throughout your treatment.

IV – With the IV approach, the dentist will inject a chemical straight into your vein. This method is generally used for moderate-high levels of sedation.

Depending on the conditions surrounding your treatment, your dentist will use one of these options or a combination of them. Each of them come with a slightly different experience, so knowing which to prepare for is important. Additionally, if you are uncomfortable with one of those forms, you can discuss this with your dentist.

What Credentials Do You Have?

Medical professionals need to obtain training and certification before administering sedation. While there is next to no chance that your dentist will give sedation without proper documentation, it is still worth your time to ask.

How Long Have You Been a Sedation Dentist?

Another factor to watch out for is experience. Every dentist has to start somewhere, but you probably do not want to be one of their first patients. Instead, look for a provider that has been working on sedated patients for many years. Doing so will ensure top quality service and safety.

What Safety Precautions Do You Take During the Treatment?

If your dentist sedates you anywhere beyond a low level, there are a few low-probability health risks that come with it. That being said, paying attention to vital signs such as heart rate will nearly eliminate that risk. When choosing a dentist, try to find one that monitors you while you’re sedated and knows what to do if things go awry.

When you find a sedation dentist in St. Louis, you should consider asking them the questions on this list before fully committing. Any good dentist will happily answer them in a straightforward manner. Once you have your answers, you can go forward with your appointment as planned.

Call today to schedule an appointment

(314) 862-7844

What to Expect If Your Child Has an Oral Sedation Dental Procedure

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If your child is having a dental procedure involving oral sedation, there is no reason to fear; it generally comes with minimal risks.

Pediatric Oral Sedation

If you have a child who is going to have oral surgery, it is likely that oral sedation might be recommended or even required. Oral sedation might sound intimidating due to the word sedation; but, unlike anesthesia or IV sedation, oral sedation is much less complicated and comes with very few adverse effects or concerns.

What Is Oral Sedation?

Oral sedation is when your child receives oral medication that helps them to be conscious but in a sleep-like state during a procedure. The medicine usually allows them to sleep, but it is possible that they can be completely awake and feel very little and remember little-to-nothing.

Like a magic memory eraser, oral sedation is an excellent way to take away the pain and anxiety of having something like a tooth pulled, so that your child doesn’t have to suffer any emotional distress.

“How Will My Child Behave?”

The oral medication that a child receives during a procedure will usually last after the treatment is completed. Your child can be sent home immediately following its completion without concern. It might be alarming to see your child at first because they can seem incredibly out of it and incoherent, but this should be very short-lived.

Once the medication wears off, they will not remember what happened during the procedure and will be back to their old self.

It is not unusual for your child to talk after a procedure about it, which can also be somewhat concerning. They often will not make much sense and be completely unaware of what they are saying.

Even if they talk about what happened, and what they witnessed, that doesn’t mean that the oral sedation didn’t work. When your child fully wakes up after the medications have worn off, it is unlikely that they will remember a thing.

What to Watch for After Oral Sedation

Take precautions to make sure that your child doesn’t injure themselves after having oral sedation. Since they aren’t fully cognizant of what they are doing, it is best not to let them eat hard foods, especially if their mouth is still numb post-surgery.

Serve only soft foods until you know that they are coherent and also that they have the sensation back in their mouth. Otherwise, there is a risk that they will hurt themselves when chewing.

Also, if they are incredibly groggy, it is essential to observe them. If your child gets up to go to the bathroom or starts to roam the house, things like stairs or tripping hazards can be risky. If they are awake but not very alert, you might want to watch them until you are sure that they are fully conscious.

If your child is having a dental procedure involving oral sedation, there is no reason to fear; it generally comes with minimal risks. The only thing that you might want to be concerned about is watching them afterward until the medications have run their course.

Call The Dental Anesthesia Center

(314) 862-7844

Sedation Dentistry for Dental Implants

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Dental sedation is the best way to make sure that your implant will be a success.

Oral Sedation St. Louis

The notion of having a dental implant can be quite overwhelming and somewhat scary for those who don’t really understand the process. If your dentist is recommending dental implants, you might be holding off because you don’t want to go through the pain of having a dental implant procedure.

The good news is that you can have a dental implant with virtually no pain and discomfort if you choose to use the right dental sedation plan.

What is a Dental Implant?

A dental implant is an alternative to dentures. Basically, it’s a fake tooth. The procedure for installing an implant uses a screw that fuses to the jawbone to keep a new tooth in place. For people who have lost a tooth either from tooth decay or some other trauma, a dental implant is a way to replace the tooth to make it completely unnoticeable.

With current technology, a proper procedure allows the implant tooth to fuse to the jawbone, which prevents a person from having to have the procedure done more than once. Once you have a dental implant, it is for life (as long as the tooth fuses properly).

Are Dental Implants Painful?

Dental implants tend to make people squeamish due to the nature of the procedure. A slit is made in the gum where the missing tooth is, and then the bone is drilled to prepare for the new tooth to be placed. Many patients, hearing the details of how an implant is placed, develop some extreme fear and anxiety.

The reality is that the pain of the procedure can be masked with the right sedation and post-surgery can be maintained with medication to reduce swelling and manage any discomfort.

What Type of Sedation is Best?

When you are having a dental implant, a dentist will often give you a sedative that will either put you to sleep or make you completely unconscious, depending on what you decide and what they recommend. If you have any preexisting conditions that make IV sedation not the best option for you, oral sedation might be an option that is nearly as effective and comes with very little risk and minimal side effects.

Not all people who are getting a dental implant will need IV sedation. Depending on the extensive nature of the dental implant and what needs to be done, there are times when oral sedation or even nitrous oxide might be enough to get you through the process without any pain or discomfort.

Once the effects of the sedation begin to wear off, your dental professional will be able to provide pain medication if you are experiencing any discomfort at all.

St. Louis Sedation Dentistry

If you are in need of a dental implant and are putting it off because you are fearful that it will be painful, take heart. Dental sedation is the best way to make sure that your implant will be a success and that you won’t have to go through any major trauma or pain in the process.

At The Dental Anesthesia Center, we work hard to make you feel at ease by providing exceptional patient care in a relaxed, convenient setting. We believe that patients should have sufficient information to make educated decisions about their oral health and treatment options.

Contact us by calling (314) 862-7844 to find out more information or to schedule your implant consultation. We look forward to meeting you!

Advantages of Pediatric Oral Sedation

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The best part about oral sedation for dental treatment is that it comes with very few side effects.

Pediatric Oral Sedation

Sedation dentistry is one of the best tools that a pediatric dentist has at their disposal. For kids who are very anxious and either don’t want to open their mouth or can’t sit still when required, oral sedation is an excellent and low-risk option. The best part about oral sedation is that it differs from IV and other forms of sedation because your child is conscious the entire time.

Sedation in a Pill

The pill form of oral sedation is an excellent way to stave off the anxiety that can come with a dental procedure when children are involved. Given before your youngster even makes it to the dental office, the sedative pill takes away all the pre-treatment jitters and requires no needles or any other painful devices.

Oral sedation requires that your child is given the medication prior to coming to the dental office. By the time they make it to their appointment, they are groggy enough that they don’t remember much even though they are still completely conscious. Not only does that help with their anxiety, but if you have a child who has excessive fears of needles and doctors, it can also lower your anxiety too because you will know that your child will be at ease.

Few Side Effects

The best part about oral sedation is that it comes with very few side effects. For some children, dizziness, headache, and sometimes nausea and mouth dryness are about as complex as symptoms get. As with any type of medication, an allergic reaction may occur but oral sedation is a nearly side-effect-free alternative to other forms of dental sedation methods.

Oral sedation usually lasts long enough to get through simple procedures. Once the medication wears off, your child will be ready to go home. The sedatives won’t interfere with their breathing once the effects have run their course, so you don’t need to worry about bringing them home or monitoring their airway when they are asleep.

Safe and Problem-Free

Even though oral sedation is, for most children, problem-free, your pediatric dentist will be trained to know what signs to look for to spot trouble. Being monitored throughout the procedure, your child will be closely watched for any signs of issues.

The most common medications that are used for children are Chloral Hydrate, Triclofos Sodium, and Midazolam. The medications are just enough to take the edge off and allow your little one to sleep but are not enough to cause any real concern.

There is no such thing as sedation that doesn’t come with some sort of side effect or risk, but oral sedation for kids is about as safe as it can be. With the exception of rare instances or allergic reactions, your child will make it through their procedure without incident, ready to go home without any negative recollection of their dental procedure.

Oral Sedation for Your Child

At The Dental Anesthesia Center, we work hard to make you feel at ease by providing exceptional patient care in a relaxed, convenient atmosphere. We believe that patients should have sufficient information to make educated decisions about their oral health, treatment options, and choice of sedation dentists in Saint Louis.

Call to schedule an appointment at (314) 862-7844.

Will You Benefit from Sedation Dentistry?

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Patients with physical or mental disabilities who are unable to cooperate for dental treatment are able to benefit from sedation dentistry.

Sedation Dentist St Louis

Many people fear to have a dental procedure. They often worry about the pain they might feel as well as their potential discomfort and vulnerability. These feelings can bring on overwhelming anxiety.

The good news is that regardless of what you have to have done in the dentist’s chair, sedation dentistry can definitely help patients feel more relaxed and comfortable during dental work, but is it the right choice for you? Consider the following information to see if you can benefit from sedation dentistry.

There are Different Types of Sedation

There are different types of sedation procedures that can range from mild to deep. The type that is recommended, depends on what the patient is having done and the complexity of the procedure itself. Other factors that play into what type of oral sedation is recommended are things like the health of the patient, their age, and other factors that might make them more vulnerable or make sedation more necessary.

Nitrous Oxide

Nitrous oxide or “laughing gas” is the most noninvasive form of sedation that you can have. It is fairly safe for everyone. An odorless gas, it is used to calm a patient and to take away any anxiety that they have. With very little downside or cost to use, it is a good choice for younger patients who might be fearful of having their teeth worked on.

Oral Sedation

Oral sedation is slightly more invasive. It consists of having the patient take oral drugs that will relax them, and will likely allow them to sleep when the procedure is taking place. With very little risk involved in its use, it is also a great overall sedation method for those who are a little anxious.

When is Sedation Necessary?

There are times when a dentist will not perform a procedure without the use of sedation. IV sedation might sometimes be required for long surgical procedures or ones that come with complications. If it involves working close to nerve endings or bones, getting the patient to sit still and not move is not only critical for their own pain levels, but also for the long-term success of the procedure itself.

In addition, patients with physical or mental disabilities who are unable to cooperate for dental treatment can benefit from these services. The use of sedation dentistry may be the only way a special needs patient can get dental treatment.

If your child is having a major dental procedure, then sedation may be necessary to ensure that they don’t awake in the middle and overreact. It also allows the dentist to do as much work as possible in one sitting instead of stretching the treatment plan out over many different appointments, which may not be emotionally beneficial to the child.

The choice of sedation is generally in the hands of the patient. But there are times when a dentist will suggest that sedation be a part of the treatment or that treatment cannot be done for the safety of the patient overall.

St. Louis Sedation Dentist

Your initial oral examination includes a visual examination, charting, diagnosis and treatment recommendations. We will also take x-rays, which includes the panoramic x-ray for proper diagnosis of the anterior (front) and posterior (back) teeth as well as the bite-wing x-ray series for proper diagnosis of proximal decay of posterior teeth.

Call us today to schedule your appointment at (314) 862-7844. We look forward to meeting you!