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Sedation Dentistry for Elderly Patients

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Elderly patients often have a difficult time receiving dental treatment. Dental sedation may be the best way for them to get the treatment they need.

Sedation dentistry helps patients with anxiety get the dental treatment they need. From individuals who have suffered traumatic experiences in the past to small children and people with sensory processing disorders, all of these can benefit from sedation dentistry when usual treatments are not an option.

Dental Sedation for Elderly St Louis

Unsolved dental issues can easily spread to other areas of the body and affect body functions. Complications appear at a higher incidence rate in elderly people and pose a greater risk. At the same time, senior citizens may have certain chronic conditions that can interfere with the development of good dental treatment, which is why a discussion with a St. Louis sedation dentist is paramount.

If you have an elderly loved one that needs dental treatment but they have a difficult receiving the treatment, dental sedation may be the best option. The side effects of sedation and its associated risks when other conditions are present might be challenging when it is used for elderly patients. However, The Dental Anesthesia Center is a state-of-the-art dental facility for patients who require general anesthesia, deep sedation, or oral sedation for their dental care.

Challenges of Sedation Dentistry for Seniors

A sedation dentist must first assess the patients general health and the risks they are susceptible to before administering any medicine. Then, they should prepare for the monitoring of vital signs and set the right dosage.

The cardiovascular and respiratory systems are the main ones affected by sedation. Age-associated diseases and seniors’ weakened system make things increasingly complicated. Although it is scarce, the medical literature on sedation given to elderly patients shows the possible risks and how to prepare for them.

Levels Of Sedation Dentistry for Seniors

  • Minimal Sedation – an individual is conscious. This method is the lightest level of sedation. It involves a mild sedative. Using this kind of sedation requires no additional training for the dentist.
  • Moderate Sedation (Sedation Dentistry) – a person is conscious and is referred to as “Sedation Dentistry.” Moderate Sedation allows the patient to simply respond to your questions. You are not asleep for sedation dentistry. A dentist is required to receive two days of additional training when administering pills orally. Intravenous (IV) Sedation requires at least 60 hours of training or a dentist can be trained as part of a residency program.
  • Deep Sedation (Sleep Dentistry) – Deep sedation or general anesthesia is referred to as “Sleep Dentistry” (unconscious). Using this method, there is no memory of the procedure. Dentists who provide this method require a two-year Dental Anesthesiology Residency or an Oral Surgery Residency. This is the recommended level of sedation for individuals unable to tolerate dental treatment for mental or physical reasons.

St. Louis Sedation, Sleep & Special Needs Dentistry

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!

“Dr. Hoffmann and the Entire Team Are ALWAYS So Kind, Gentle, Caring and Understanding”

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Each of our patients come to us with their own unique dental story. We listen. It enables us the ability to provide everything it takes for each of them to have a “wow” experience. Our reward is the gratitude expressed by our patients. Today Cooper’s mom shared his unique “story”.

Meet our “gentle giant” Cooper. He was diagnosed with autism at 22 months of age and is now about to turn 21 years old. No matter what age he is, he will always be our “forever baby!”

Dr. Hoffmann and his team of professionals have helped us care for our Cooper for many years now. When having regular dental visits with our pediatric dentist became too difficult for Cooper to manage, she (Dr. Dunagan) referred us to Dr. Hoffmann for general anesthesia. Our neurologist (Dr. Mantovani) even refers patients to Dr. Hoffmann because of his reputation for excellent care for special needs family members.

I want to say that over the years not only has Dr. Hoffmann taken care of Cooper’s dental needs, wisdom teeth extractions, but so much more. We need blood draws and lab work taken regularly to help Coop’s team of doctors (neurologist, psychiatrist, pediatrician) maintain appropriate levels of medication (behavior meds, seizure meds, etc.) and Dr. Hoffmann does this while Cooper is under anesthesia! We seriously don’t know how we would accomplish this without him…look at the pictures…Coop’s strong and big and would not sit still for labs!

Dr. Hoffmann and the entire team are ALWAYS so kind, gentle, caring and understanding of individuals with special needs AND extremely reassuring to the family members who are always a little stressed from the situation. He is willing to help you through anything, trimming fingernails, taking off bandaids, removing skin tags! Those “crazy” things that parents think “how in the world can we do this” but just by communicating with Dr. Hoffmann, he can maybe do “that too” while your special person is under anesthesia!

Again, Cooper will be “our forever baby”, as well as a ”forever patient” of Dr. Hoffmann’s and The Dental Anesthesia Center.

Sincerely,

Anna Hyland (Mom)

The Importance of an Initial Consultation For Sedation Dentistry Patients

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Depending on your circumstances you may need to reach a certain level of trust before you feel comfortable getting the treatment you need.

Those that have dental anxiety suffer in a variety of ways. While the most important of them is poor oral health, there is another factor that people rarely discuss. It is the negative emotion associated with attempting to go to the dentist and failing. The good news is, if you are a sufferer of anxiety or any other condition that keeps you away from the dentist, there is one crucial tactic you can use to make the process easier. It is setting up an initial consultation before you get any treatment. Below, we explain the advantages of doing so.

patient sedated at dentists office

Answering Your Questions

There is a good chance that you’ll have a few questions about sedation dentistry. Some typical examples include the process that each patient undergoes, what type of sedative the dentist will use, and if there are any side effects. The great thing about a consultation is that you do not have to jump right into the treatment without getting all of the information you need. Instead, you can ask every question that you have and get accurate, concise answers from your potential provider.

Dispelling Your Fears

In a similar vein, many people come into sedation dentistry with two fears. The first is with the treatment itself, which many patients find to be physically painful or anxiety-inducing. The second is regarding the sedation process, which often involves a partial loss of consciousness. Fortunately, you don’t have to dive right into these things, and can instead talk to a dentist about your fears first.

Establishing Trust

As effective as sedation is in quelling anxiety, there is another crucial factor that people don’t often talk about. It is having trust in your dentist. When you do, your mind will be at ease, as you know that your health is in good hands. If you don’t, you may or may not solve your anxiety issues. Getting to know a dentist before that person starts to treat you can go a long way in establishing trust.

Judging Chemistry

Not only will you allow you sedation dentist to treat you, but you’ll spend a considerable amount of time with that person. For this reason, you should make sure that you have enough chemistry to make your interactions enjoyable. If you don’t, you’ll be less likely to go to the dentist going forward.

Get Pricing Information

Lastly, you’ll want to understand how much you need to pay for your treatment. Simply asking your potential service provider for a price estimate will give you all of the information you need. From there, you can make an informed decision.

Whether you suffer from low pain tolerance, dental anxiety, or some other condition, sedation dentistry is an excellent option. Of course, depending on your circumstances you may need to reach a certain level of trust before you feel comfortable getting the treatment you need. The best way to reach that point is by setting up an initial consultation, which can help you get your questions answered, dispel your fears, and much more.

Give us a call today at (314) 862-7844 to set up and appointment!

6 Tips to Beat Nausea After Dental Sedation

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Here are six tips to help you feel better if you are feeling nauseous after your dental procedure.

Dental sedation has many positives for those that have trouble going to the dentist. The most important of them is the simple fact that they can get their oral treatment comfortably, instead of avoiding it altogether. Still, this practice comes with its downsides, one of them being post-sedation nausea. Here are six tips for getting over this feeling and getting on with your day.

woman who is nauseous after dental sedation

Follow Eating and Drinking Guidelines Before Sedation

While this tip doesn’t apply to your post-sedation behavior, it relates heavily to getting over your nausea. The reason is that those who don’t follow these guidelines are much more likely to vomit during and after their treatment. Doing so will only increase the severity of your symptoms. In general, the best approach is to not eat or drink for around six hours before your appointment, though your dentist may have an alternate recommendation.

Stay Active

This is one you have to be careful with. On the one hand, doing some walking, basic chores, and generally staying active can quell your nausea and take you out of the head fog that many patients experience. On the other, you will be a bit out of it and don’t want to push yourself too far. The happy medium is likely doing low-stress tasks while being mindful of your limitations.

Drink Water as Soon as Possible

When you get out of sedation, you will likely be dehydrated from your pre-treatment fast. This factor is significant because your body decreases its functionality when it doesn’t have what it needs. Fortunately, you can get things started again by drinking a cup or two of water. Doing so will signal to the rest of your body that it is time to wake up and start eating, and your nausea should subside.

Move to Tea or a Carbonated Beverage

Your next step after water is moving on to a different drink. Some people love the way tea settles their stomach, and report that ginger and green are the best variants to try. Others prefer a carbonated beverage, such as a club soda. When you come out of your sedation, try these drinks out and see what agrees with you.

Eat a Stomach Friendly Meal

Once you’re out of the initial stages of intense nausea, it is time to eat. When you do, your best bet is opting for stomach-friendly foods like crackers, soup, and yogurt.

Get Medication if Necessary

Though most people find that their nausea is gone after just a few hours, others experience extended symptoms. If this is the case for you, don’t hesitate to call your dentist. You may pick up some needed tips or, in the most dire circumstances, get a prescription to fight those feelings.

We hope that after reading this article, you are more comfortable with nausea you might feel after your dental sedation. While this feeling is unpleasant, it generally doesn’t affect a significant proportion of patients, and when it does, it goes away relatively quickly. The truth is that this issue is manageable and should not get in the way of your dental care. If you follow these tips, there is a good chance it won’t.

Call (314) 862-7844

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6 Things to Do After Dental Sedation

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Here are 6 tips to help you feel normal as quickly as possible after dental sedation.

Patients are often scared of sedation, despite how safe the practice is. One of the crucial reasons why is the strange feelings that people experience when they come off of the sedative, which might include nausea, confusion, and disorientation. Here are 6 tips for fighting these possible side effects and feeling normal as quickly as possible after sedation.

Have Somebody You Trust Take You Home

One thing you might experience after dental sedation is some degree of confusion and disorientation. While this feeling will generally go away quickly, you will want somebody you know and trust to greet you after your appointment to ensure your comfort. For this reason, we recommend having friends or family take you to the dentist and back, rather than utilizing rideshare services.

Find Your Activity Sweet Spot

There are two activity-related mistakes you can make after your appointment. The first is being too active. If you try to live your life exactly as you would any other day, you put yourself at risk of falling due to a lack of coordination. The other side of the coin is being too inactive. Moving around and getting your blood pumping will help make the sedative wear off and bring you back to normalcy.

Drink Water

Sedation often involves keeping you without water for the duration of your treatment. The result of this practice is you being incredibly thirsty when you leave the dentist. Additionally, water helps jumpstart your body and clear your head after your partial loss of unconsciousness. Your best bet after sedation is drinking a moderate amount of water right away, as long as you are not too nauseous.

Eat Manageable Foods

One of the most common symptoms of sedation is having an upset stomach for a short period of time. To avoid this outcome, you should stay away from sweets, spicy foods, and anything that causes digestive problems. Instead, stick to stomach-friendly meals until you’re feeling right again.

Take Your Medicine

Whether or not you’ll have medication to take depends on your sedation strength and the treatment you receive. Light sedatives usually have no associated medicine, but heavy sedation followed by a procedure likely will. Regardless, if your dentist prescribes medication to you, be sure to take is as instructed.

Don’t Be Afraid to Call Your Dentist

Dentists know that sedation can be confusing for patients. As a result, they usually send you home with an informational sheet about best practices. Still, you might run into an issue that you cannot figure out or concerns you. Don’t be afraid to call your dentist and get more information if this situation presents itself to you.

We hope that learning about these techniques helps ease your fears about dental sedation. Generally, it is a safe practice, despite a few manageable side effects. If you’re convinced that this type of dentistry is right for you, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment and get the dental care you need.

Call (314) 862-7844

Why Sedation Dentistry Is Especially Useful for Parents

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Dental sedation can be an excellent choice for children who suffer from dental anxiety!

St. Louis child at dentist

Some St. Louis parents have no issues taking their child to the dentist. They simply make an appointment, bring their child in, stand by as the child gets their treatment, and leave without any stress. For other parents, this is not the case. This is because, for various reasons, their child has serious issues with seeing the dentist. The most common culprit is dental anxiety, which affects both children and adults. This may result in a fight every time that child needs dental care. Fortunately, there is a solution: sedation dentistry. Below, we explain why sedation dentistry is a useful tool for parents.

Dental Anxiety is Prevalent in Children

Though dental anxiety is found among all age groups, it is especially widespread among children. For many kids, the idea of going to the dentist is terrifying. It involves interacting with people they are not familiar with, hearing unpleasant sounds, and feeling the regular discomfort that comes from a visit to the dentist. While some children can easily brave through these factors, others are overcome by emotion and cannot.

Children Tend to Have Poor Emotional Control

When adults feel anxiety and fear, they can often manage them through the power of will and self-talk. For children, this task is much harder. Instead of being able to “tough out” their emotions, they are frequently overcome by them. The result in this situation is a child not being able to push their dental fears aside, and instead, being overwhelmed by them.

They Often Cannot Sit Still

Even if a child is not feeling anxious, they might be overactive. Every parent either has or has met a kid that just cannot sit still. Instead, they squirm and fight any time someone tries to make them do so. As you might imagine, this makes the dentist’s job much harder and increases the chance of a mistake being made.

Oral Health is Critical

A parent with an especially difficult child might decide to not see the dentist at all. They could get tired of fighting their children every time they try, so they give up entirely. Unfortunately, this can have dire consequences. Oral health is critical for children, and denying them regular dental visits will make it suffer.

How Sedation Can Help

When you take your child to a St. Louis sedation dentist, they will be given some form of sedation. Which type they receive will depend on their needs, but no matter what, it will relax them. This will allow your child to not feel the negative emotions they associate with trips to the dentist, and let your dentist work on their teeth without issue.

As a parent, your top priority is your child’s health. Because of this, it is natural for you to question how healthy sedation is. Here’s the good news: Sedation is generally safe for children. This has been proven throughout many decades of practicing medicine, so you do not have to worry. The summation of all of these factors makes sedation a safe solution to your child’s issues and a useful tool in making them as healthy as possible.

Give us a call today to schedule an appointment!

Call (314) 862-7844