I hope you all enjoyed your weekend! I woke up this morning to more lovely Phoenix sunshine, a perfect way to start off a Monday, and then I heard it, the phone ring and there it was, the confirmation for my dentist appointment. Needless to say I am totally and completely afraid of the dentist. However, I am in plentiful company, a study found that around 50% of Americans don’t visit the dentist regularly, out of fear. Of course that wasn’t a valid excuse when I tried to get out of going. But then I was introduced to a new type of dentistry; Sedation Dentistry. Sedation Dentistry is a new cutting edge form of dentistry that allows dentists to put patients on laughing gas (nitrous oxide sedation), oral sedation or IV sedation (general anesthesia) for any type of dental procedure. And Bonus! You can get complicated dental procedures done in just one visit! (That would’ve been nice to know before I got my wisdom teeth take out). But lets be real, if you or someone you care about is afraid of the dentist, give sedation dentistry a try. You may just be surprised at how easy a dentist visit really can be… although there is no guarantee on the scent of the waiting room.

Minimally invasive is the new way to go. No one wants drilling especially not patients that have a fear of the dentist. Now a product and technique is available that will eliminate the pain of drilling and filling.

This new technique is available which is an alternative to filling tooth decay. Dentists can rebuild a decaying tooth with Icon caries infiltrant by DMG America.

What is Icon? It is a microscopic, invasive material that fills in the decayed area while reinforcing tooth enamel.

The integrity of a tooth can be restored in 15 minutes. A rubber dam is used to prepare the area, then a gel is applied to the tooth. This gel causes the pores in the tooth to open and the decayed area is rinsed. Once the tooth is dried then the Icon is applied to the area.

Just think no more fillings and no more having to listen to the sound of the drill.

I recently took a trip to the store in Phoenix to stock up on some oral hygiene supplies. I was overwhelmed by the number of tooth pastes, mouthwash, floss and tooth brushes. My thought was that mouthwash is one of the simplest ways to improve your oral hygiene and in turn reduce dental visits. With so many varieties to choose from and so many hygiene issues each claim to solve which one is right for me? I thought that anti plaque mouthwash would be the best way to go to fight the bacteria that causes cavities. One of the main ingredients in anti plaque rinse is fluoride. Anti-cavity rinse with fluoride has been proven to reduce the bacteria that causes cavities by 50 percent. However most over the counter anti plaque mouth rinse only helps with cavities and gum disease slightly more than rinsing with water. Most antiseptic mouthwashes do curb bad breath and freshen breath for up to 3 hours after use. The most effective mouthwash is prescription-only rinse that your dentist can prescribe. These rinses have been proven to reduce the bacteria that causes plaque and cavities. There can be side effects from a prescription mouth rinse. A rinse with alcohol can give a burning sensation in your cheeks and gums. Too much fluoride can cause mouth ulcers, sensitivity to teeth and roots, stained teeth or a change to your taste sensation. Mouth rinse with fluoride is not recommended for children under the age of 6.

Your teeth are one of the first things people see when they meet you. We like to think that we look people in the eyes when we meet them or are talking to them but the truth is 75% of people look at your mouth rather than your eyes. The difference between someone with good teeth and a nice smile and bad teeth is night and day. Unfortunately many people out there have let their teeth and smiles loose their sparkle because they are afraid of the dentist. The fear of the dentist is one of the most common fears people have along with a fear of public speaking. With sedation dentistry there is no reason for anyone to let their teeth and smile dwindle out of fear. Sedation dentistry allows the patient multiple methods to ensure they are in total comfort during their dentist appointment. You may be a candidate for sedation dentistry if you have not had dental treatment in 2 years or more, have a traumatic dental experience in your past, have sensitive teeth or have adverse reactions to standard numbing or trouble getting numb. Ask your dentist whether oral sedation, IV sedation or nitrous oxide is the right treatment for you. You can overcome your fear of the dentist and have the smile and impression you have always dreamed of with the simple benefits of sedation dentistry.

I developed a fear of the dentist when I was in college. Because I was under a tight budget I made a decision when I needed a root canal, to go into the dental school. This was one of those decisions in your life where you wish you had a “bad idea” alarm that would sound and slap you back into your right mind. The procedure lasted 3 visits of 4 hours each excruciating trip. My girl friend at the time would drop me off and pick me up and each time she picked me up I was soaking wet because I had sweat through my clothes. My fear stems from not only the pain that I experienced but the lack of control that I felt with the rubber dam in my mouth not knowing how long the procedure would last. Needless to say I have had a fear of the dentist ever since. I know now that many people have had a traumatic experience and have subsequently developed a fear of the dentist. There are however things that can be done to minimize this fear. The first and simplest is just to say to your dentist “I have a low pain threshold and would like to know what can be done to make me more comfortable.” You really have to be assertive in making sure that you will feel comfortable. One of the things that I have done is ask the dentist for some breaks during a procedure. This will help you to feel more in control and less fearful. Always make sure that you have something to distract you. I bring my ipod to my dentist so I can’t hear the sounds. Most dentists now have a tv that you can watch or just some peaceful scene playing on a computer. Try relaxation techniques like controlled breathing. Taking a big breath, holding it, and letting it out very slowly. This will help lower your heart rate and ease muscle tension. Ask your dentist what methods of sedation or available. There are 3 different types of sedation that can be used. Nitrous Oxide, IV sedation and oral sedation. Have a discussion with your dentist to figure out which type of sedation is right for you.

We all understand the importance of oral hygiene or if you are reading this most likely you do. Flossing is an imperative aspect of dental hygiene that often times is neglected and should be done at least once a day. If you have big hands and fingers it can be a nuisance or even painful to get your fingers way back to floss between your molars and cutting off the circulation in your fingers for about 2 minutes while you floss isn’t the greatest feeling either. So what can be done to make this everyday dental treatment easier? Behold the floss holder. There are many companies that make a floss holder and if you have an aversion to flossing you will love this simple little tool. If you have never seen a floss holder it looks a bit like a plastic fork with 2 prongs and the floss is strung between them. It allows those of you with sausage fingers a quick easy way to floss. I think this tool has cut down not only the time that it takes me to floss by 50% but I also how effective my flossing has become. This simple tool has made me want to floss rather than before where I was reluctant and I viewed it as a chore. I personally think everyone should own one of these and for about $4.50 it can improve your oral hygiene and save you hundreds of dollars in dental work.

Many people these days have heard of the benefits of Sedation Dentistry but are confused if it is right for them. If you are a dental patient that suffers from any of the following symptoms then you would be a candidate.

* Anxiety of dental treatment
* Traumatic dental experiences in your past
* Adverse reaction to traditional Novocaine
* Very sensitive gag reflex or difficulty keeping mouth open for extended periods
* Extremely sensitive teeth
* Time constraints for dental care completion
* More complex dental problems or require oral surgery
* Embarrassed about your teeth
* Procrastinate with dental problems
* Have received dental care in years
* Persistent dental problems or pain
* Cancel dental appointments
* Extreme nervousness in the dental chair

If you can’t stand the noises, tastes and smells of the dentist office and you can’t overcome them even when standard distractions are used then you may want to experience “twilight sleep” while the dentist works on you.

Recent research has concluded that the number one reason patients postpone necessary dental care was fear. Unfortunately dental decay and periodontal disease do not take cease just because the patient is afraid. This is the main reason Sedation Dentistry is imperative for some patients.

There are several forms of Sedation dentistry.

Conscious sedation involves the use of nitrous oxide, or laughing gas.
Oral sedation involves taking a pill to help control anxiety.
IV Sedation

So how does Sedation work?

Patients receive sedative drugs which create a relaxed state that is maintained and monitored throughout treatment. Not only are you comfortable and completely relaxed throughout the procedure with sedation dentistry you are able to complete multiple procedures in one appointment.

An IV is started by the anesthesiologist allowing all medications for relaxation to enter your body. You will not remember or be aware of any procedures or especially “getting numb.” You breathe on your own. This is not like the hospital anesthesia where a machine breathes for you.
Sedation Facts:

* It Works. You can relax through your dental appointment.
* You will have little or no memory of the procedure.
* You can relax for up to five to six hours after the IV sedation (or the anti-anxiety pill if you choose). The time you are relaxing will vary depending on your needed treatment and type of anesthesia delivered.
* Complex dental treatments that often require multiple appointments can often be done in as little as one or two!
* People who have difficulty getting numb will have no problem when relaxed.
* Sedation dentistry is a safe way to eliminate the tired feeling of extended dental treatment that require long visits.

Tooth decay was believed to be caused by worms, until the eighteenth century when researchers understood more about the human mouth.

Without electricity in the 1700s, dentists had to use hand drills that were powered by foot motions.

George Washington probably wished that he’d taken better care of his natural teeth. His artificial teeth consisted of elephant teeth, cow teeth, and walrus teeth.