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

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7 Dental Fads You Might Want to Avoid

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If you are looking for alternative solutions because of anxiety related to going to the dentist, consider sedation dentistry.

Being on the Internet can easily convince you that wonder products exist and they will change your life. Dental care is no exception. You might have already heard about some of the following practices that are supposed to keep your teeth healthy and beautiful with little cost and usually a little DIY effort.

Some people look for alternative dental solutions because they have anxiety or fear of going to the dentist. Unfortunately, if something seems too good to be true, it usually is. Many of these dental fads are not effective, or are even harmful for your teeth. In addition, relying solely on these techniques may lead to dental problems.

Oil Pulling

An ancient practice in terms of oral care is oil pulling. It involves swishing oil in your mouth for about 20 minutes. The oil is supposed to collect all the bacteria on your teeth and gums, making it easy for you to just flush it afterwards. While oil does remove some of the plaque on your teeth, relying only on oil pulling will eventually lead to gum disease and tooth decay.

Rinsing Your Teeth with Hydrogen Peroxide

In the search of the whitest smile, people try easy at-home remedies, like rinsing their teeth with hydrogen peroxide, a common ingredient in whitening products. This practice can be very harmful in the long-run, weakening the enamel.

Brushing Your Teeth with Activated Charcoal

Often seen on Instagram, this trick can be damaging for your teeth. Using activated charcoal for your teeth corrodes the enamel and will eventually leave your teeth vulnerable to cavities.

Wearing Tooth Grills and Gems

Grills will cause micro cracks and scratches on your teeth, and wearing gems can create breeding places for bacteria.

Using Coconut Oil to Treat Canker Sores

Canker sores can be very annoying, and coconut oil as a remedy seems quite harmless, but it doesn’t really make the healing process faster. If you have persistent sores in your mouth, see a dentist who can evaluate them.

Using Fluoride-Free Toothpaste

Anti-fluoride seems to be part of a wider trend that fights allopathic solutions, but fluoride, besides being present naturally in the environment (in low quantities), is also one of the best ways to prevent cavities.

Brushing Your Teeth with Lemon Juice and Baking Soda

Another dangerous habit is brushing your teeth with lemon, baking soda or a combination of the two. Lemon is highly acidic and baking soda very abrasive, so using the two will result in creating micro-scratches on your enamel, then attacking them with acid.

There’s nothing wrong with trying out some new things if you believe they are good for your health, but doing a little research on these subjects is enough to show you what’s truly effective and what’s only an internet fad.

If you were looking for alternative solutions because of anxiety related to going to the dentist, consider sedation dentistry – it is often the best solution to get the much needed dental treatment for patients who don’t like being in the dreaded chair.

Stress-Free Dental Sedation for Children

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Dental problems in children are a cause of concern for any parent. We want to give our little ones the best start in life, and good oral health education starts early on. However, with all our efforts to keep their teeth clean, they may still need a procedure done at the dentist.

So how will you make an infant, a toddler or a preschooler sit still in the dentist’s chair? The solution may be sedation dentistry, along with patiently educating them along the way about oral health.

No matter how well behaved our children are, or how much we insisted on preparing them gently for what’s about to come, some procedures are simply too lengthy or complex for children to be able to sit still during the whole thing. So what are the sedation options you have?

Laughing Gas (Nitrous Oxide)

Generally, the mildest type of sedation your kid can receive is laughing gas – nitrous oxide that is inhaled through a face mask. Its effect lasts shortly and it keeps the patient calm and in a good mood, but it only works well with cooperative patients. If your child is too young or too anxious to go through the procedure with only laughing gas, other options will likely be taken into consideration.

Oral Sedation

Taken in the form of a pill or a syrup before the procedure, oral sedation has longer effects than laughing gas, requires proper preparation hours before the procedure and it may have more side-effects and associated risks. The disadvantage of oral sedation is that the dose cannot be adjusted along the way.

IV Sedation

This is the most common type of sedation used in young children, as it has a stronger effect than the previous ones, keeping the child calm and still, and the dose can be adjusted along the way.

General Anesthesia

If your child is too anxious and cannot be treated while conscious, general sedation will be taken into consideration. The child will be asleep during the whole process and it might take hours before the effects of the sedative fade away. Special care is needed before and after general anesthesia.

Specific Risks of Sedation in Pediatric Dentistry

When it comes to children, you need specialized doctors who know how a child’s body reacts to certain medications. Extra precautions will be taken because of the tighter airwaves of a young patient and certain allergies and conditions that might affect the treatment.

If your child needs extensive dental treatment or they are so anxious that it’s impossible to keep them on the dentist’s chair, talk to your St. Louis pediatric dentist about sedation options and what you need to know about the one that fits your child’s case.

Call Us Today

The Only Board Certified Dental Anesthesiologists in the State of Missouri, including the St. Louis Metro Area.

Call (314) 862-7844

How to Know When You’ve Found the Right Sedation Dentist

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Sedation dentistry is very often used nowadays by patients who are struggling with anxiety, mobility issues or other conditions. This procedure allows them to receive dental treatment and be confident and relaxed when on the dentist’s chair.

If you are a good candidate for sedation dentistry, you are probably wondering how to find the best St. Louis sedation dentist to work with. To make your search easier, here are some tips on how to tell if your doctor is good for you or not

They Have the Proper Education Level

The level of education and qualifications necessary to perform certain sedation procedures depend on the type of sedation used. Many dentists are qualified to perform very light sedation, like laughing gas (nitrous oxide,) however not all dentists are qualified to administer oral or IV sedation. Every state has certain requirements about this, like the Dental Rule Book of Missouri published by the Missouri Dental Board.

They Are Up-to-Date with Present Day Techniques

Choosing a dentist or any doctor for that matter who trains and educates himself continuously is a very good decision. Asking about the latest education programs they attended should be met with confidence and excitement, as a good professional keeps up to date with the industry.

They Take Their Time to Learn about Your Medical Needs

An important part of a sedation procedure is the discussion that precedes it. Your doctor should take his time to ask you about your medical history, the medication you are on, possible allergies, and so on. Choosing the right kind of sedation for you will be based on your medical background.

They Inform You of Potential Side-Effects

No matter how mild sedation will be, it has potential side-effects. For example, laughing gas can give you headaches or nausea, although it is considered generally harmless. Your doctor should inform you about the associated risks of the sedation method you will be given.

They Make Sure You Get Clear Instructions Before the Procedure

Part of the preceding discussion about the procedure is the preparation you must do at home. A good doctor will make sure you understand each step of the preparation and verify your condition before giving you the sedatives.

The Only Board Certified Dental Anesthesiologists in the State of Missouri

Asking a few questions about your sedation dentist before you get through such a procedure will help you be more comfortable with it and get your treatment safely, from a trained professional. Give us a call today to learn more!

Call Us Today

The Only Board Certified Dental Anesthesiologists in the State of Missouri, including the St. Louis Metro Area.

Call (314) 862-7844

How Dental Sedation Can Help Patients With Special Needs

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Dental patients with special needs face different challenges when going to the doctor, and dental care is no exception. Disability implies mental or physical impairment that limits the patient’s abilities or actions. As such, doctors have to try different approaches to be able to treat the patient.

Dentistry is notoriously dreaded by patients, and dental anxiety is incredibly common, even in modern times, when we see unprecedented care for the patient’s comfort. For a patient with special needs, a visit to the dentist’s office can be more intimidating, as they face their own barriers as well.

When it comes to special needs patients and their caregivers, dentistry should have a different approach than with other categories of patients, and dentists are generally equipped to see special needs patients. However, they can also recommend a special needs dentist in case the patient’s treatment needs highly specialized attention.

Challenges Faced by Special Needs Patients

Depending on the impairment they have, special needs patients can face many types of challenges when going to the dentist.

  • Language barriers
  • Vision or hearing problems
  • Psychosocial challenges: increased anxiety, poor oral health education
  • Limited movement: they might need a wheelchair, or they might not be able to sustain a certain position for a long time
  • Needing more time to adjust to the environment, the staff and the dental procedures

Solutions in Dentistry for Special Needs Patients

If they decide to see a general dentist, then special needs patients or their caregivers should inform the doctor beforehand of the impairment, so that the staff can prepare best for the visit. Usually, there will be a longer period of time dedicated to the appointment, additional staff might be present, and anything that might be necessary to make the procedure possible.

One of the most helpful solutions for special needs patients is to use sedation during dental procedures. Destined for patients with dentist related anxiety or the particular group of patients who we are talking about, sedation helps them keep calm and remain still during the procedure

Doctors can choose from different types of sedation, from the mildest to general anesthesia, depending on the impairment and the length and complexity of the procedure.

No matter the solution your St. Louis sedation dentist will use, it is the doctor’s duty to respect any patient’s dignity and right to get treatment or inform them about the practical limitations of his professional training or cabinet equipment.

If you are a special needs patient or a caregiver to one, please get information about sedation dentistry and other solutions. Oral health should be accessible to everybody. Neglecting it can and will lead to more problems in the future. Talk to your St. Louis sedation dentist about it and see what course of action meets your needs best.

Call Us Today

The Only Board Certified Dental Anesthesiologists in the State of Missouri, including the St. Louis Metro Area.

Call (314) 862-7844

How Sedation Can Help You With a Chipped Tooth after an Accident

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Chipped teeth can vary in seriousness, but they always involve some damage to the enamel of your tooth.

st. louis man with tooth ache

Accidents are often traumatic events, even when they don’t result in injuries. The unexpected unfortunate event can affect your confidence and make you anxious and tired. When you also suffer injuries from an accident, you are dealing with a lot more on top of the mental distress. Sometimes injuries are not so serious but can become really uncomfortable. Such a case is when you chip your tooth as a result of a car accident for example.

Here is how to spot it and what to do about it.

Symptoms of a Chipped Tooth

Chipped teeth can vary in seriousness, but they always involve some damage to the enamel of your tooth, which is the most important protection you have against cavities, infections and other oral diseases. If the enamel is cracked or missing a part of it, your tooth is now exposed to the elements.

But chips and cracks can be so small that you don’t notice them from the beginning. If your head was tilted suddenly during the car accident, you might have hit your teeth together with such force that chipping occurred. If nothing is visible, but you have one of the following symptoms, you might have a chipped tooth.

List of symptoms for chipped teeth:

  • Visible cracks or missing part of your enamel
  • Soreness in your tongue, where it catches the chipped tooth
  • Inflammation of the gums surrounding a tooth
  • Uneven surface of the tooth, which you can notice with the tongue
  • Pain in the tooth when biting on something
  • Sensitivity to cold or hot foods and drinks in the tooth

If you have one or more of these symptoms, it’s a good idea to speak with your dentist. They will discover the cause of your discomfort and solve the problem properly. If left unchecked, a chip or crack in the tooth, no matter how small or painless it is, can lead to bigger problems.

Sedation Dentistry for Chipped Teeth

Even if a chipped tooth sounds like a very small problem usually, it can be a very serious issue, even an emergency. Underestimating its effect on your oral health or treating it lightly, will not do you any favors. And if the chipped tooth was a consequence of an accident, it can be a traumatic experience, especially since in most cases the front part of the smile is affected, which can damage the patient’s self-esteem.

For these reasons, you can comfortably ask your St. Louis sedation dentist what your sedation options are when treating your chipped tooth. Whether they will use laughing gas, oral sedation or IV sedation, you will decide together what the best option will be for your situation.

To speak with a St. Louis sedation dentist give us a call today at (314) 862-7844.

How Sedation Can Help With Dental Bone Grafting

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Bone grafting is a complex surgical procedure used to replace missing bone tissue and encourage it to heal.

sedation dental bone grafting

Here’s what you need to know about it how sedation dentistry can help.

When Is Bone Grafting Recommended in Dentistry?

If you need a tooth replacement, the dentist must insert the implant in your jaw bone, fixing the tooth in your bone and ensuring that it is as close as possible to a healthy one and that it maintains its function. More often than not, the jaw bone is already affected by tooth loss. It may start receding and getting more and weaker because of the infections and trauma. In these cases, a bone graft may be necessary to recover the jaw tissue and provide the necessary support for the implant.

Other cases where a dental bone graft is necessary may include patients who suffered injuries at face-level. The surgeon is capable of adding a bone graft and help the area heal better and maintain its functional structure. Some individuals may suffer from congenital diseases that affect their jaw bone structure. A bone graft can be an optimal solution for them too.

The Process of Getting a Dental Bone Graft

If you are a candidate for receiving a bone graft, then you need to know that it can be a lengthy process as it can take quite a lot of time for your body to heal. Grafting is actually helping the body in its healing process, and it may involve harvesting bone tissue from another region of your body. So, don’t expect to be done with the whole process after a few visits to your dentist.

First, you will likely be tested via medial imagery with a CT scan. The doctors need to know how much tissue needs to be added and what size and shape the gap is.

After the initial tests and examinations, the next step is to decide where the harvested tissue will come from. You can have a bone graft from your own bone tissue (jaw, hip, tibia, etc.) or processed bone from a bank.

During the procedure, the healthy bone tissue is placed in the area that needs treatment and held together by special membranes that will dissolve in your system. Your body will do the rest, but you do need to help it by taking antibiotics, avoiding pressure on the area and keeping the pain under control.

If all goes well, you generally just need to wait for the bone to heal. Once it has healed, you can get the implant and/or go on with your life without having to take the mentioned cautions.

What Is the Role of Sedation in Dental Bone Grafting?

A dental bone graft procedure is a complex operation, even if your problem is not very serious. Because of that, and the invasive nature of the operation, sedation is mandatory. Your St. Louis sedation dentist will opt for IV sedation or general anesthesia to numb you and help you go through the operation. Your doctor will choose the least invasive sedation form needed for your operation.

A dental bone graft operation is not the easiest procedure to go through, but it leads to better oral health and it solves many serious issues. The complications that can come from a weakened jaw bone will be worse than the recovery process you go through after a bone graft.

To speak with an experienced sedation dentist at The Dental Anesthesia Center call (314) 862-7844.