JULY 2018
Sedation dentistry
Several medications are available to help create more relaxed, comfortable dental visits. Some drugs control pain, some help you relax and others put you into a deep sleep during dental treatment. The type of procedure, your overall health, history of allergies and your anxiety level are considered by your dentist when determining which approach is best for your particular case.
Local anesthesia is used to prevent pain in a specific area of your mouth during treatment by blocking the nerves that sense or transmit pain, which numbs mouth tissues. Your dentist may apply a topical anesthetic to numb an area in preparation for administering an injectable local anesthetic. Topical anesthetics also may be used to soothe painful mouth sores. Injectable anesthetics may be used in such procedures as filling cavities, preparing teeth for crowns or treating gum disease.
For some dental visits, your dentist may use a sedative to induce moderate sedation. Sedatives can be administered before or during dental procedures. Sedation methods include inhalation (using nitrous oxide), oral (by taking a pill) and intravenous (by injection). More complex treatments may require drugs that can induce deep sedation, reducing consciousness in order to relieve both pain and anxiety. On occasion, general anesthesia can be used, in which drugs cause a temporary loss of consciousness.
For post-treatment pain or discomfort,Tylenol 500mg + Advil 400mg every four hours is proven to be more effective than narcotics. Even so, taking any medication involves a certain amount of risk.
Dentists use the pain and anxiety control techniques mentioned above to treat millions of patients safely every year.
The American Dental Association and Wisconsin Dental Association urge you to take an active role in your oral health care. Understand the risks and benefits involved in dental treatment, so you and your dentist can work together to take the appropriate steps to make your dental visit as safe and comfortable as possible, and to help you keep a healthy smile.
Handling dental emergencies
Accidents happen, and knowing what to do when one occurs can mean the difference between saving and losing a tooth.
Here are some simple precautions you can take to avoid accident and injury to teeth:
- Wear a mouthguard when participating in sports or recreational activities.
- Avoid chewing ice, popcorn kernels and hard candy, all of which can crack a tooth.
- Use scissors, NEVER your teeth, to cut things.
When you have a dental emergency, it’s important to visit your dentist or an emergency room as soon as possible.
If a tooth is knocked out:
- Locate and save the tooth or tooth fragment if you can.
- Gently rinse off any dirt or debris, but do not scrub too aggressively.
- If possible, re-insert the clean tooth into the socket and gently hold in place.
- If a whole tooth cannot be re-inserted, or if it's a partial piece of tooth, it is ideal to store the tooth in milk immediately. Otherwise, keep it in your cheek, under your tongue or in water. The tooth must stay hydrated to be re-attached.
- See a dentist as soon as possible, ideally within 60 minutes.
Helpful products available from the pharmacy until you can see a dentist include:
- Wax to cover a very sharp tooth edge
- Clove oil medication on a cotton pellet for toothaches
- Topical oral gels or creams for tooth and gum pain
- Mouth rinses to soothe sores
Most dentists reserve time in their daily schedules for emergency patients. Call your dentist and provide as much detail as possible about your condition.
Sensitive teeth
Is the taste of ice cream or a sip of hot coffee sometimes a painful experience for you? Does brushing or flossing make you wince occasionally? If so, you may have sensitive teeth.
Possible causes include:
- Tooth decay (cavities)
- Fractured teeth
- Worn fillings
- Gum disease
- Worn tooth enamel
- Exposed tooth root
Sensitive teeth can be treated. The type of treatment will depend on what is causing the sensitivity. Your dentist may suggest one of a variety of treatments:
- Desensitizing toothpaste contains compounds that help block transmission of sensation from the tooth surface to the nerve, and usually requires several applications before sensitivity is reduced.
- Fluoride gel is an in-office technique which strengthens tooth enamel and reduces the transmission of sensations.
- A crown, inlay or bonding may be used to correct a flaw or decay that results in sensitivity.
- Surgical gum graft will protect the root and reduce sensitivity if gum tissue has been lost from the root.
- Root canal may be needed if sensitivity is severe and persistent and cannot be treated by other means.
Proper oral hygiene is the key to preventing sensitive-tooth pain. Ask your dentist if you have any questions about your daily oral hygiene routine or concerns about tooth sensitivity.
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