Tag Archives: oral conscious sedation

Sedation Dentistry

How much dental work in one sitting?

I haven’t been to the dentist in ages. I finally went in last week and found out that I needed quite a bit of work done. That is not a huge surprise, but it is disappointing. I don’t want to live at the dentist’s office. I wondered how much dental work can be done in one sitting?

Brian L.

Brian,

You haven’t mentioned what type of procedures you need. Is it just fillings? Or maybe you need some crowns and root canals?

How much can be done in one sitting depends on two things: 1. What type of procedures you need, and 2. Your tolerance in the chair.

Some people can handle a few hours, but it gets hard holding your mouth open.  I will tell you, that you could handle a lot more time in the chair if you used sedation dentistry. My suggestion would be either oral sedation dentistry or IV sedation. That will enable you  to get the most work done, with the least amount of discomfort to you.

If you go with sedation, you will need someone to drive you to and from your appointment.

This blog is brought to you by Gilbert Dentist Dr. Matt Roper.

Sedation Dentistry

The BEST way to go to the dentist

Here is a letter a colleague of mine received. I can’t think of a better endorsement for sedation dentistry anywhere.

For years I have avoided the dentist (sorry about that), but not anymore. I have found the best way to go to the dentist. If you have any other chicken patients maybe you can tell them my story and they will find the help I did.

Dear Fellow Dental Chicken,

I understand how you feel. Whenever I thought about going to the dentist my whole body would tense up.  Who wants to pay for that kind of pain? The problem was I was starting to be in pain all the time.  I was getting cavities. Those cavities turned into tooth infections.

Even with the infection, I was still finding excuses to avoid the dentist. One evening, when I was in an abundance of pain, my friend Terri told me that if I didn’t take care of my tooth infection that it could spread. In a worst case scenario, it can even spread to my brain!

I don’t have to tell you that she put me in a little bit of a panic.  She told me about sedation dentistry and my life hasn’t been the same since.  I took a pill before my appointment. It relaxed me completely. To be honest, it relaxed me so much I don’t remember a whole lot about the dental appointment.  What I do know is that my infection is gone and I felt NO pain during my appointment.  Since then, I’ve been back twice to take care of all that dental work I have neglected over these years.

I hope this helps.

This blog has been brought to you by Gilbert Dentist Dr. Matt Roper.

Sedation Dentistry

Tooth pain versus dental fear

I’m in a lot of pain, but I have a horrible fear of being in a dental chair. I can’t decide which is worse. How do I find a dentist who doesn’t cause pain?

Drew B.- San Antonio

Drew,

You are not alone in your dental fear.  A large number of Americans share your feelings. There is a way you can get your tooth ache dealt with and stay out of pain in the dental chair.

What you need is a sedation dentist. There are different levels of sedation. It sounds like your fear needs something stronger than nitrous oxide. Call around and see who will do at least oral conscious sedation.

This is a pill you take shortly before your appointment. You’ll need someone to drive you to and from the appointment, because you’ll be pretty groggy. What you won’t feel, is pain.

This blog is brought to you by Gilbert Dentist Dr. Matt Roper.