Dental Concerns

Sedation Dentistry is used when a person has an uncommon fear of dentists or needs a lot or work done at one time. There are three types of Sedation: Inhalation (laughing gas or nitrous oxide), Oral (pills are used or a liquid) and Intravenous (IV) where a medication is put into the blood stream through a needle in a vein. None of these methods mean “going to sleep,” rather they just relax you enough to not care what is being done and so that you do not feel any pain or anxiety.

Inhalation Sedation (laughing gas) is the most nearly “ideal” way of sedating a person as it is a gas that has no color or smell and does not irritate a person. It basically kills pain and gives a very nice feeling throughout the body as some people will have a ‘drunk’ feeling while others may experience hearing or sight effects as well. Some people will get very lightheaded and then get the giggles and that is why it is called laughing gas.

Oral Sedation comes in the form of a pill that is taken at night and relieves anxiety before the dental visit. It also helps a person to get a good nights sleep and be relaxed enough to see the dentist the next day.

Intravenous Sedation is done just as it says. The dentist places a needle in a vein either in the back of your hand or your arm and the drug is administered through the blood. The needle is very tiny and, throughout the procedure, your pulse and oxygen levels are constantly monitored. They use anti-anxiety drugs, not painkillers for this and you will still need that painkiller before any procedure is started. The good thing is that you probably will not remember anything once it is over.

Dental digital x-rays are very technologically advanced now as compared to what used to have to be done. The dentist places a small electronic sensor into the part of the mouth that needs work and all the information is relayed back to a computer screen so that both the dentist and the patient can see what is happening and how the teeth are doing. This greatly reduces the discomfort that the older x-rays used to cause.

There is no wait time for x-ray development and it takes a lot less time to get the information that is needed. The images are also clearer and sharper and the patient’s x-ray exposure is greatly reduced. With the patient also seeing the pictures, they develop a better understanding of what needs to be done which makes dental visits a lot more relaxing.

Dental Amalgam Mercury Fillings are no longer used by many dentists and have been replaced instead by dental bonding. Mercury is a time release poison which makes it very toxic and it is important to find knowledgeable practitioners who can and will remove the mercury fillings and replace them with something much better suited for you.

Dental Insurance Plans have become very expensive for all employers in Canada and are slowly being replaced by a Quikcard Health Spending Account (HSA). It is specifically designed to meet the needs of individuals, there are no restrictions on company size or services covered, you pay only for what you use and any money left over at the end of the year is either refunded or carried into the plan for the next year.

Virtual Reality Goggles or i-glasses are used for patient distraction and entertainment. They have a giant screen video image and can be connected to DVD players, VCRs or cable/satellite TV. Any of these connections will distract the patient from the work being done and make visiting the dentist a very pleasurable experience for everyone involved.

These Virtual Reality Goggles are also used for Movies For Kids. This will distract them from any procedures going on and therefore relieve anxiety and maybe make them almost enjoy going to the dentist each time. The eyeglasses are lightweight and will keep kids entertained for the entire visit.

If you would like to discuss your dental concerns in more depth with us, please call us for a consultation at: 1-877-283-0497