Category Archives: Sedation Dentist

Sedation Dentist

Can I Really Wake Up with a Whole New Smile?

I was at my dentist’s office for a check up and mentioned to him that I was thinking about improving my smile. Honestly, I was just thinking about whitening my teeth, but he’s suggesting something completely different. He wants to crown all of my teeth for a complete smile makeover. He said I could even use dental sedation which means I could go to sleep and wake up with a whole new smile. I don’t know why I feel uneasy about the situation. Maybe it just sounds too good to be true to take a nap and get a prettier smile. What do you think?

Laura

Dear Laura,

Woman resting in dental chair from dental sedation

You have good instincts. Dental sedation is a wonderful tool to help patients with dental anxiety get the care that they need without fear. While it is true that you can completely sleep through your procedure, I would not recommend that for any type of cosmetic work. One thing that is important when it comes to a smile makeover is that you get to approve the work before it is permanently bonded on. You can’t really do that if you’re asleep.

If you were an extremely anxious patient, then I would say it is okay to use nitrous oxide. This way your dentist can turn the nitrous to oxygen and you will be lucid and ready to approve or disapprove anything. I can’t say I trust your dentist at this point. It’s not just the recommending sedation, which is a big red flag in this situation. It’s also that he is recommending crowning every tooth.

You just wanted to whiten your teeth, which (believe it or not) is done with a simple teeth whitening procedure. Even if you wanted a total smile makeover, what your dentist is recommending is a huge overtreatment. The typical procedure for a smile makeover is to get porcelain veneers, which does not require grinding down your healthy teeth. Plus, at the most you would only cover the teeth that are visible when you smile and use teeth whitening for the remainder so that they blend in naturally.

If a dentist is suggesting porcelain crowns for healthy teeth, it is a sign that they do not know how to do porcelain veneers. So, they’re pointing you toward a procedure they do know how to do. Unfortunately, knowing how to do dental crowns and knowing how to do a smile makeover are completely different skills. If they’re not skilled in porcelain veneers I would not expect a beautiful result.

My recommendation is that you get just the procedure you originally wanted. While it takes real expertise to do a smile makeover, any dentist can do teeth whitening. If you find a dentist who does Zoom Whitening, you can get your teeth whitened in just one appointment.

This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Dentists Drs. Foreman and Thimmesch.

Sedation Dentist

Sensitive to Novocain

I have a high sensitivity to Novocain and any type of numbing medication, but want to get porcelain veneers. A friend of mine with a similar condition said that when they put the numbing medication on her she became very shaky and had a hard time calming down. I don’t want that to happen to me so was wondering if there was a way around this.

Callie

Dear Callie,

a porcelain veneer being held up to a tooth

I think you are going to be okay to get the porcelain veneers. Your friend’s reaction is unlikely to be from the Novocain. There’s a very slight possibility that it would be in the epinephrine that is often present in Novocain, but I find that unlikely. The reason for that is the amount of epinephrin in Novocain would be significantly less than what is present in your body when you become fearful.

It is more likely that your friend has dental anxiety which made her shaky. If you have dental anxiety as well, then I would recommend you have your cosmetic dentist provide you with nitrous oxide. Don’t let a dentist talk you into a stronger sedation for your porcelain veneers procedure. It is not a painful procedure at all. This will relax you enough that you won’t have anxiety.

With nitrous, your dentist can switch it back to oxygen and you will be back to normal in just a couple of minutes and can approve or disapprove your smile makeover. If you use anything stronger, then you will be way too groggy to approve anything. You could end up with a smile you hate.

You also want to make sure whoever is doing your smile makeover has extensive post doctoral training in cosmetic dentistry. It would be ideal if they were AACD accredited. These are the top cosmetic dentists in the country and will give you a stunning smile makeover. At the very least, make sure that they have a beautiful smile guarantee which allows you to approve the smile. If you don’t love it, then they should be willing to go back to the lab and make any changes you want.

This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Dentists Drs. Foreman and Thimmesch.

Sedation Dentist

Can I Use Sedation for a Smile Makeover?

I want to get a smile makeover but I am a nervous dental patient. Would I be better off getting dental sedation so they can just knock me out, do the work, and I wake up with a beautiful smile?

Candy

Candy,

Woman resting in dental chair from dental sedation

I am sorry for your dental anxiety. I want you to know that you are not alone in feeling this way. Hopefully, you go to a dentist who is understanding about your fears. It can be very helpful to go to a dentist who is compassionate with patients who are anxious.

While I am a big proponent of using dental sedation, the one concern I have about using it for your smile makeover is that, depending on the type of sedation you use, you won’t get to approve the smile before it is bonded on permanently.

If you are getting porcelain veneers, very little shaving needs to be done on your teeth. The dentist will give you something like Novocain, which will make you completely numb. If that still scares you, then you could have some nitrous oxide. Unlike oral conscious sedation, which will make you too sleepy/loopy to make an informed decision in approving the porcelain veneers, your dentist can switch the nitrous to oxygen once the porcelain veneers have been placed with a temporary try-in paste. This will enable you to be lucid enough to decide if they are to your satisfaction and ready to permanently bond on.

Never allow a cosmetic dentist to bond on your veneers without your getting to see them and approve them. If you don’t absolutely love how they look, the dentist should make the changes needed.

Unfortunately, smile makeovers are not adequately taught in dental school. In order to develop the technical skill and artistry necessary to create beautiful smiles, they will need post-doctoral training. I would look for a dentist who is accredited with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. AACD accredited dentists are the best cosmetic dentists in the world. You can feel confident that they will give you a stunning smile.

This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Dentists Drs. Foreman and Thimmesch.

Sedation Dentist

Zirconia Allergy or Burning Mouth Syndrome?

I had two zirconia crowns placed. I’m never a great dental patient because I have a bit of anxiety, but I do my best. Getting these crowns was a big deal for me, though you might find it silly. Since then, I have had this burning and itching in my mouth since getting the crowns. I went back in to see the dentist and asked if I was allergic to the zirconia in the dental crowns. He told me that no one is allergic to zirconia. I felt like he was blowing me off so bucked up and went to see another dentist. He said that he felt it was burning mouth syndrome. I don’t know what to think. Does this sound more like an allergy or the burning mouth syndrome?

Amy

Dear Amy,

An image of a woman resting in a dental chair with dental sedation to relax her

Thank you for reaching out. Let me say right off the bat that I do not think you are being silly. Dental anxiety is real. When you struggle with that and still go to the dentist, it takes a lot of courage. I would never minimize that.

Any advice I give will have to be general because we have not examined you. However, I think I can be of some help. While a zirconia allergy would be extraordinarily rare, I do not think it is wise to say that no one is allergic. The human body is vastly complex and each person is completely unique. The easiest way to find out if you have an zirconia allergy is to get tested for one.

As for burning mouth syndrome, that is a possibility as well. While there is no “official” cause for burning mouth syndrome, several dentists have seen a direct connection between patients with dental anxiety and the development of these symptoms.

Dealing with Dental Anxiety

As you’ve experienced in your own life, our teeth do not care if we are anxious. They’re going to continue to need care whether we are ready for it or not. I want you to have positive dental experiences that will help alleviate the anxiety you have endured all of these years.

My recommendation is that you only see dentists who offer dental sedation. These dentists are not only more compassionate toward patient with your fears, but they can also offer you a medication which will completely relax you. Not only can you have a pain-free/anxiety-free appointment, but if you use something like oral conscious sedation, you are very likely to sleep through your entire procedure.

Patients, who for years only went in for treatment when they had a dental emergency, have found that using dental sedation changed their lives. Not only were they able to get much needed work done without fear, but they were also able to completely get on top of their oral health care and no longer have to worry about their teeth falling apart.

This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Dentists Drs. Foreman and Thimmesch.

Sedation Dentist

Who Removes Teeth for Dentures?

I have always had a problem with going to the dentist, ever since I was a child. This has led to me having some pretty severe problems with my teeth. I was pretty much only going when there was a dental emergency. I’m really tired of it because every appointment is a nightmare. I’m considering getting my teeth extracted and getting dentures to replace them. Would the dentist do that, or do I need to go to an oral surgeon?

Stanley

Dear Stanley,

An image of a woman resting in a dental chair with dental sedation to relax her

You are not alone in having a hard time with the dentist. Many people struggle, especially when they had a traumatic experience when they were younger. Before you have your teeth removed, I want to make sure you understand what the results will be and that you know all of your options.

Once your teeth are removed, your body will immediately begin to resorb the minerals in your jawbone. It does this because it is trying to be as efficient with your body’s resources as possible. The big problem with that is that this has the side effect of slowly shrinking your jawbone. In about ten or so years, you will no longer have enough jawbone left to retain your dentures. This will make you a dental cripple able only to eat soft foods. Dentists call this facial collapse.

The Solution to Facial Collapse

There is a way to prevent the shrinking of your jawbone. It will mean having dental implants surgically implanted in your jawbone. Then, when there has been time for your bone to integrate with the implants, your denture can anchor your dentures to them. The implants signal to your body that you have teeth roots there, so it does not try to resorb the minerals in your jawbone.

This will also increase your quality of life. Even the best fitting removable dentures will reduce your chewing capacity by 50%. Having them anchored means you will be able to eat anything you want. There will be no slipping or sliding.

Getting Pain-free Dental Care

However, the best solution is to keep your teeth in place. Many people who have dental anxiety find that going to a sedation dentist completely changes their experience with dental care for the better. A sedation dentist can offer you a pill that you can take. This pill will completely relax you during your appointment. In fact, you’ll be so relaxed that you will be able to sleep through your entire appointment if you want to. This form of dental sedation is known as oral conscious sedation. The only downside is that the medicine is so strong that you will need someone to drive you to and from your dental appointment as well as stay with you for a few hours until the medication wears off and you are more lucid and steady on your feet.

This would be a better solution for you in the long term than removing your teeth. However, if you still want to get rid of them, I want to answer your original question. Pre-denture surgery can be done by most dentists and is not complicated. You will want someone who can do your surgery and the dentures. I would ask what their normal procedure is, though, and not tell them what you are looking for. You want someone who does this often and is comfortable with the procedure.

This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Dentists Drs. Foreman and Thimmesch.

Sedation Dentist

How Can I Get the Most Dental Work at Once?

I need a LOT of dental work done. I’ve neglected my dental care over the last few years because of finances. I have dental insurance with my new job and am hoping to really to catch up with my work as quickly as possible. Is there a best practice way of getting the most work done at once, such a fillings one day, crowns another? Or is it better to mix them?

Brooke

Dear Brooke,

An image of a woman resting in a dental chair with dental sedation to relax her

I’m sorry you have had such a hard time the last few years, but congratulations on the new job! Hopefully, this is the start of many blessings for you.

How much work you have done in one sitting has more to do with the dentist and your level of tolerance. Each dentist is a bit different on the amount of work they are willing to do per appointment.

I have found that the ones willing to do the most work are those who use dental sedation. I would especially recommend oral conscious sedation. Though it is administered by a pill, it is extraordinarily effective. In fact, many patients call it sleep dentistry because of how strong it is. If you want to, you could sleep through your entire appointment.

If you decide to use oral conscious sedation, you will need someone to drive you to and from your dental appointment as well as stay with you for a few hours after your appointment until you are lucid and steady on your feet.

You did not mention root canal treatments, but if you need more than one and they are on molars, I recommend using an endodontist for those. A general dentist can do them, but an endodontist would be faster.

I hope this helps you and I’m glad you are in a position now to get your teeth where you want them.

This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Dentists Drs. Foreman and Thimmesch.
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Sedation Dentist

Dental Treatment While in Addiction Recovery

I have been dealing with an opiate addiction. I am on the path to recovery and am in a methadone program to help with that. I go to counseling regularly and have a full time job now. I’m even working toward going back to school. the problem I’m having is my teeth. Due to my addiction, I really neglected them and now need a ton of work done. I do have a bit of dental anxiety and am having trouble finding a dentist willing to provide me with any dental sedation, let alone pain medication after the procedure. I’ve offered to give each of them the number of the clinic that provides my methadone and even will sign a waiver to let them have access to my records there. Still no one is willing to help me. If you have any suggestions or advice for me I would be quite grateful.

Once I get my teeth healthy, I’m hoping to spruce up how they look, but I think just getting them in shape will cost most of my savings.

Damien

Dear Damien,

An image of a woman resting in a dental chair with dental sedation to relax her
Sedation Dentist is sometimes dubbed sleep dentistry because you are so relaxed.

You are in a tough position. In case nobody has said it to you recently, you are doing amazing things getting your life back on track. It is hard picking yourself up like that and you seem to be crushing it! That is something to be proud of.

Though you are probably feeling judged, what is more likely happening is that the dentists are afraid of the D.E.A.. There have been stories circulating about dentists getting in trouble just for being compassionate and prescribing extra pain meds.

I think you will be able to find someone who is willing to help you. Start by calling dentists whose website says they offer dental sedation. Just keep calling. You will find someone.

As for sprucing them up. An inexpensive way to make a huge difference in the appearance of your smile is to have teeth whitening done. That one simple procedure will take years off their appearance.

This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Dentists Drs. Foreman and Thimmesch.

Sedation Dentist

Dealing with a High Resistance to Novocaine

I am 27 years old and have horrible teeth. Dental work is almost impossible for me because I have a high resistance to Novocain which makes it almost impossible to get numb. I’m thinking my only option is to remove my teeth and get dentures. I want to move up in my career and feel my smile is really holding me back. I am assuming that I can get the teeth removed with anesthesia, right?

Amelia

Dear Amelia,

Woman with beautiful smile

Before you do anything drastic, like remove all your teeth, I want togive you a solution that will allow you to keep your natural teeth, have a beautiful smile, and not get tortured at the dentist because of your high resistance to Novocain.

There is a huge connection between the inability to get numb and dental anxiety. Given your traumatizing experiences with dental care, I would not be surprised if you had a very high anxiety level.

This anxiety amps up your metabolism, which burns off the numbing medication before it can do anything. I recommend you see a sedation dentist who offers oral conscious sedation.

This is administered by a pill which will completely relax you. In fact, it is so strong that it has been dubbed sleep dentistry because most patients just snooze through their entire procedure. You will need someone to drive you to and from your appointment as well as stay with you for a few hours until you are lucid and steady on your feet again. But, this will change your life and you’ll be able to get that work done on your teeth without pain or anxiety.

Why You Don’t Want Dentures

images of before and after facial collapse
The result of facial collapse

When your teeth are removed,  your body recognizes that and immediately begins to resorb the minerals in your jawbone to use elsewhere in your body. In about ten or so years, you will no longer have enough of your jawbone left to retain your dentures. Dentists call this facial collapse. You are only 27 years old, this is NOT what you want.

While there is a way to prevent this, it is expensive. You could have dental implants placed that your dentures would anchor to. The implants are like prosthetic tooth roots, so your body recognizes that you have teeth there and leaves your jawbone intact.

Before you go this route, I think trying dental sedation will truly solve your issue.

This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Dentists Drs. Foreman and Thimmesch.

Sedation Dentist

Need Advice about a Tooth Extraction

Years ago I had an infected tooth. I avoided the dentist because I have never had a good experience with one. When I could not take the pain anymore, I schedule an appointment. He said the tooth was infected and performed a root canal treatment. I was supposed to schedule a follow-up appointment for the cap, but never did. I probably should have because it seems like the tooth got reinfected. It hurt again and pieces started falling off. I went to another dentist who confirmed the infection. I received quite a lecture about the state of my teeth and not getting regular care. He told me it would be a tough extraction. The best he could offer me was nitrous oxide. If I didn’t think I was able to handle the procedure, he could refer me to an oral surgeon. I was thinking I would go with the oral surgeon. However, it turns out they are a LOT more expensive. Would I be able to get this done with a dentist and it not be an absolute nightmare or do I need to take out a loan and see the oral surgeon?

Imogen

Dear Imogen,

Woman resting in dental chair from dental sedation

I am going to say right off the bat that this dentist you saw will not be the best dentist for you. What you need is compassion and a solution, not a lecture. That does not lend toward helping patients feel comfortable going to the dentist.

You should not have to take out a loan and go to an oral surgeon for this extraction. The right dentist can do this extraction for you. What I think you need is a dentist who offers other, stronger, dental sedations options, such as oral conscious sedation.

They are generally more compassionate with anxious patients than the dentist you just experienced. Let them look at the tooth and tell you whether or not they can do the extraction. My guess is you will find someone. It sounds more like this dentist was out of his comfort level and was trying to push  the blame off on you.

With oral conscious sedation, you are not knocked out, but will be so completely relaxed that you will be able to sleep completely through the procedure if you want to.  Most patients who use dental sedation find it completely changes their life and they are able to get the dental care they have always wanted.

The only downside is, because of its strength, you will need someone to drive you to and from your appointment, as well as stay with you for a few hours after the procedure. They will want to make certain you are lucid and steady on your feet.

This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Dentists Drs. Foreman and Thimmesch.

Sedation Dentist

Help! My Five Year Old’s Teeth are Rotting!

I have a five year old daughter. Three of her molars are decayed. I brush her teeth twice a day and floss. I do take her to the dentist but she is remarkably uncooperative. Every appointment is embarassing. First, what is going on with her teeth? Second, how do I get this necessary work done with her being so difficult?

Edith

Dear Edith,

Little girl smiling in a dental chair

I can tell that you are a caring mother and are doing your best to take care of your child. Let’s start with the most urgent issue first. She needs this work done on her molars for two reasons:

  1. If left untreated, this can turn into a dental emergency. When those are left untreated, it can become life threatening.
  2. Molars need to be kept until the child is about twelve years old. Otherwise, the other teeth will drift and it will lead to crowding when her permanent molars come in. That will mean expensive orthodontics. If a molar is so far gone that it cannot be saved, make sure your pediatric dentist places a space maintainer there in order to prevent that issue.
papoose board
Papoose Board

If she is uncooperative, you will either need to have the dentist use a papoose board or dental sedation. The work has to be done for her own good.

As to the second issue of why. Some of it may be genetics, but you didn’t mention this problem with your teeth. My strong suspicion is that she either snacks a lot or has lots of drinks thoughout the day that are not water.

Most people don’t know that one of your biggest allies in the fight against decay is your saliva. It contains bacteria fighting minerals. However, if someone is snacking often or having lots of sugary/citrusy drinks throughout the day then it doesn’t get the time it needs to do its job.

My suggestion is to limit her to one snack a day and make sure she is drinking lots of water instead of juices and sodas. This may be a tough adjustment for her, but if you hold the line, she’ll adjust to the new rules.

I hope this helps.
This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Dentists Drs. Foreman and Thimmesch.