Sedation

Do you experience fear, anxiety, or high stress just thinking about going to the dentist? You are not alone! Sedation Dentistry may be the solution for you as it has been for thousands of our patients over the years! By utilizing Oral Conscious Sedation or IV Sedation your dental treatment can be comfortable. Sedation also saves our patients time by allowing us to do a lot of dental work in just one visit.

 

Oral Sedation

Our dentists will prescribe a pill to take one hour before your scheduled appointment. You must have someone drive you to our office. When you arrive at our office you will be awake but feeling very relaxed. Throughout your dental appointment our staff will monitor your vital signs. When your treatment is completed, a friend or relative will need to drive you home. Do not operate a motor vehicle for 24 hours after receiving sedation. We do recommend that you take the day off and relax, making no major decisions. When you are fully awake you will probably remember very little about your dental treatment. Oral Sedation is easy and works well for most patients.

 

IV Sedation

You should not eat or drink anything eight hours before your appointment. IV Sedation medication is given through a very small needle inserted into a vein in your hand or arm. This form of sedation takes effect very quickly. As with oral sedation your vital signs will be monitored throughout your appointment. The main advantage of IV sedation is that your dentist can control the amount of medication given allowing for your sedation to be increased or decreased quickly and comfortably if necessary. You will be very relaxed during your appointment and will remember very little about the procedure. Most patients become alert once the medication is stopped, however someone must drive you home. You should not operate a motor vehicle for 24 hours after given the IV sedation.

Sedation is safe for most patients. We will ask you several questions regarding your health history and current supplements and medications you're currently taking. We will check and make sure sedation will not interact with your medications and if necessary we will consult with your physician regarding health concerns. Your safety is our number one priority.

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Isn't it great to know you can relax in the dentist chair? If you are interested in Sedation please give us a call at 270-444-6414. We'd be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Visit Paducah Dental Care to learn more! 

How Do Tobacco Products Affect Your Oral Health?

Dr. Matthew Mangino

           

Tobacco products have a negative affect on oral health. Some effects tobacco products cause is bad breath, tooth discoloration, loss of taste and smell, and serious periodontal problems. Recent studies have shown that tobacco use may be one of the biggest risk factors in developing gum disease and that people who use tobacco develop more tartar on their teeth than non-tobacco users.

Smoking causes gumdisease to worsen and bone loss is more severe. The gums may not appear to be red or swollen and can give the false impression that the gums are healthy. This is because smoking interferes with the normal function of the gum tissues and impairs blood flow to the gums. Treatment becomes more difficult and less likely to succeed because smoking hinders the healing process in the mouth. 

 Smokeless tobacco is also known as "snuff", "spit" or chewing tobacco. It is held in the mouth between the teeth and cheek. Users spit out a black, tarry substance that forms when the tobacco joins with saliva. It is absorbed rapidly into the bloodstream through the lining of the mouth making it more addictive than smoking cigarettes. Users of chewing tobacco suffer permanent gum and bone loss even after they quit using it. Many people think of professional sports when they think of smokeless tobacco, but its use is increasing in teenagers.

No matter how long you have used tobacco products, quitting can quickly decrease your risk of developing:

•Oral cancer

•Cancers of the lungs and other parts of the body

•Heart disease and stroke

•Chronic bronchitis, emphysema (chronic lung disease)

•Periodontitis (gum disease) and tooth decay

•Premature aging

•Mouth sores or lesions that do not heal such as leukoplakia

Quitting is always the best option and there are many ways to help one quit. Talk to your dentist,dental hygienist, and your doctor about developing a strategy to quit. Have your dentist screen for early signs of oral cancer and periodontal disease. Anticipate triggers to smoking and prepare strategies on how to avoid them. Come up with a reward system and make goals for each day. Quitting is a very difficult process and it’s important to have loved ones as well as health professionals help along the way.

 Visit Paducah Dental Care to learn more!