Baton Rouge sedation dentistry Archives

How Long Does Dental Sedation Last?

September 5, 2019 by AllSmiles

If you’re nervous about dental appointments, you might worry about how long dental sedation will last. Will it wear off before your dentist completes your procedure? Relax. Depending on the type of sedation you receive, it will last throughout your appointment—and in some cases—you’ll still be drowsy for several hours after the appointment. A consideration of the levels of sedation available will give you confidence that you’ll remain comfortable during treatment.

Types of Sedation Dentistry

Nitrous oxide – This is the mildest form of sedation. It’s also known as “laughing gas.”

After two to three minutes of inhaling it, nitrous oxide will make you feel floaty, tingly, and calm.
You’ll be relaxed and desensitized to pain. If you have a gag reflex, sedation will minimize or eliminate it.
During your dental procedure, you will breathe normally through a small mask. While you’re breathing in nitrous oxide, you’ll remain relaxed.
After your procedure, your dentist will remove the mask, and the effects will quickly reverse.
You don’t need an escort, and you can drive yourself home.

Photo of woman sitting back in a dental chair with her eyes closed; for information on Baton Rouge sedation dentistry during tooth extraction.

Sedation dentistry helps you relax during procedures

Oral conscious sedation – Your dentist will give you mild anxiety-relieving medication to take the night before and about an hour before you arrive for your dental appointment.

You’ll be drowsy before, during, and after your dental appointment.
The sedation won’t wear off while you’re in the middle of treatment.
Your dentist will require that you arrange for transportation to and from your appointment. Your driver will need to remain with you at the office.

I.V. sedation – I.V. sedation goes right into your bloodstream. Most dentists do not offer this level of sedation.

You’ll be so relaxed that you might fall asleep.
The effects won’t wear off while you’re receiving dental care.
After your appointment, you’ll still be a little sleepy.
Your dentist will remind you to plan for an escort and transportation to and from your appointment.

Before you self-medicate

Some people decide to sedate themselves before an appointment by drinking alcohol or taking a sedative. Let your dentist know what you are going to take, as well as the amount. Your dentist might need to adjust the amount of sedation that he or she would give you. And your dentist will discuss how your choice of sedative can affect your dental procedure. For example, drinking alcohol in advance of your appointment can thin your blood, promote bleeding, and interfere with the clotting process.

Many people are more comfortable about receiving sedation after discussing their anxiety and concerns with their dentist. As your understanding of sedation increases, you will be confident that it will last throughout your dental appointment so you can relax and get the care you need.

Baton Rouge dentist Steven Brooksher, DDS sponsors this post.

Tooth Cracked Below the Gumline? How to Know If You Need a Second Opinion

July 16, 2019 by AllSmiles

Trauma or injury to a tooth can lead to an extraction—or not. But don’t let anxiety about the appointment overwhelm you. Your dentist likely offers sedation to help you have a relaxing, painless experience. If not, find a dentist who offers it.

A recommendation to extract—or save—your tooth, can depend on the extent of the damage and a dentist’s skill and experience. How do you know whether to agree to extraction or get a second opinion?

Save or Extract?

Save

If the crack in a tooth extends into the pulp, your dentist can save it with root canal treatment.

Extract

If a vertical crack extends below the gumline, your dentist will likely need to extract it.

Why Is Extraction Needed?

A deep vertical crack below the gumline is likely to spread in the space between the tooth roots.
Eventually, the tooth will split.
Performing a root canal is often useless.

Consult with a specialist (endodontist) if your dentist is recommending root canal treatment.

Is Doing Nothing an Option If It Doesn’t Hurt?

Sedation dentistry helps you relax during procedures

You might think that if you don’t feel pain—or if you’re managing the pain with ibuprofen—nothing needs to be done to the tooth. Why do you need to take action?

Extensive damage to the tooth allows bacteria inside.
Bacteria spreads and creates an infection that, if left untreated, will affect the gum tissue and jawbone.
Eventually, the infection will spread to other parts of your body with the potential of becoming life-threatening.
Before you receive any treatment, you can receive sedation dentistry to help you relax.

In fact, your dentist will likely offer sedation. Your dentist or specialist will numb the area around your tooth to prevent you from feeling the injection. The extraction will be painless.

What About Your Smile?

Depending on the location of the missing tooth, it will detract from your smile. You can receive a dental implant to replace the missing tooth. It’s the most effective and natural-looking way to replace a missing tooth.

Before your dentist places an implant in your jawbone, you can receive nitrous oxide or oral conscious sedation for a relaxing, pain-free experience. You’ll wear a temporary dental crown during a three-to-four-month healing period. Afterward, your dentist will attach a permanent crown to the implant. Your crown will match your surrounding teeth.

Regardless of what dental treatment you need, sedation will help you receive it and protect your oral health. If your tooth has cracked or split, call your dentist right away.

Steven Brooksher, DDS of Dentistry by Brooksher in Baton Rouge, LA sponsors this post.

3 Reasons Your Gums Won’t Get Numb at the Dentist and 3 Ways Sedation Can Help

March 7, 2019 by AllSmiles

“My dentist can’t get me numb.” That’s a common concern that many people have about their next dental appointment. And delayed, rescheduled, or cancelled appointments follow. If you have a history of difficult dental appointments during which local anesthetic just didn’t work, you might benefit from knowing some possible causes. And you might be surprised to know why sedation dentistry can make a difference.

3 Reasons Your Dentist May Have Trouble Numbing Your Gums

Anxiety

Adrenaline flow increases with anxiety. It can overwhelm your nervous system and prevent local anesthetic from working at all.

Dentist’s Error

If the local anesthetic is mistakenly placed in the wrong location, it can make it seem as if your gums aren’t getting numb at all. If your dentist proceeds with treatment, the sensitivity or pain can make it feel as if no area is numb at all.

Genetic Factors

Genetics can cause a variety of conditions make it difficult to numb your gum tissue including:

Resistance to dental anesthetic in your peripheral nervous system
Abnormal location of your tooth nerves that make it difficult to precisely inject anesthetic
High resistance to anesthetics and low pain tolerance

Sedation Dentistry Can Help

Sedation dentistry creates relaxing experiences

Sedation allows your dentist to accomplish more dental work than usual. Fewer interruptions and your prolonged comfort will maximize the productivity of your dental appointment. And sedation can be used whenever you need it—whether it’s for dental cleaning and exam, a new crown, or a dental implant.

Relaxation – Sedation dentistry relaxes you. It helps you avoid a surge of adrenaline that can interfere with the effectiveness of local anesthetic. It will also help you remain calm as your dentist locates any difficult-to-find nerves so that anesthetic can be injected in the correct location.
Pain reduction – In your relaxed state, you will be less sensitive to pain.
Perspective – After a series of relaxing pain-free dental appointments, your perspective about dental visits will change. Many patients have found that after positive experiences with sedation, they actually look forward to dental visits.

Nitrous oxide – Nitrous oxide is also referred to as laughing gas. As you breathe it in throughout your appointment, you’ll have a sense of well-being and calmness. When your procedure is complete, the effects of nitrous oxide are quickly reversed as you breathe in pure oxygen.

Oral conscious sedation – This method uses mild commonly prescribed anti-anxiety medication to help you relax. You will be given the medication to take in advance of your appointment so you can arrive at the office relaxed and ready for treatment.

The success of numbing your gums will greatly improve with sedation dentistry. And it will improve the way you feel about going to the dentist. Schedule a consultation with a sedation dentist to discuss your options.

This post is sponsored by Dr. Steven Brooksher of Dentistry by Brooksher in Baton Rouge.

3 Best-Kept Secrets to Know about Sedation before Your Next Dental Procedure

January 3, 2019 by AllSmiles

Many people think sedation dentistry is for dental cowards—people who run from dental visits or get sweaty and nauseous in the chair. If you think sedation is just for the dental phobic, think again. Even the calmest patients can benefit from this treatment.

3 Ways Sedation Dentistry Can Help

1. Saves Time if You’re Busy

When you receive sedation dentistry, you’ll be more relaxed than normal. Increasing discomfort from lengthy dental procedures is virtually negated when you’re sedated. Your dentist will be able to get more work done in less time. It’s possible that a dental procedure that would normally require two or three visits will only require one visit if you receive sedation.

If you have a busy work or home life, you’ll benefit by limiting the number of dental appointments required to complete your treatment. You will save travel time and the need to take additional time off work or away from home. The time you would have spent at the dental office can be saved and spent elsewhere.

2. You’ll Be Less Sensitive to Pain

When you’re ultra-relaxed, you are also less sensitive to pain. Even if you don’t have dental anxiety, isn’t it appealing to know that your visit—particularly with more invasive procedures—will be virtually painless?

A variety of dental treatment can be more comfortable, including:

Root canal treatment
Dental crowns
Dental implants and implant overdentures

3. Gets Rid of Gagging

Even people who are not afraid of the dentist can gag when dental tools are placed in their mouth. You will be able to better manage your gag reflex under sedation. Your dental hygienist or dentist won’t have to pause for you to regain your composure so that treatment can continue.

It Doesn’t Always Mean You’ll Be Drowsy

Sedation dentistry doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be drowsy or fall asleep. Your dentist will select a level appropriate for your dental procedure. Nitrous oxide (laughing gas) is the lowest level of sedation, and it can be quickly reversed. If you only need nitrous oxide, you can drive away from your dental appointment with no problem at all.

Other levels of sedation can make you drowsy, but you’ll know what to expect in advance of your dental appointment so you can arrange for transportation. But remember even if you receive a level of sedation that makes you drowsy—more dental work will be accomplished in a single visit, so it will save you time.

Request a Consultation

If you’re interested in learning more about how sedation dentistry can save you time and increase your comfort during dental appointments, schedule a consultation with an experienced dentist to discuss your options.

This post is sponsored by Baton Rouge accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. Steven Brooksher.