Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, & Miami Cosmetic & Sedation Dentists
Sedation Dentistry: A Dream Treatment

April 23, 2007 -- MIAMI, BOCA RATON and FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla.  –  If there was a way that you could have your treatment accomplished in minimal visits, with no pain and little memory of the experience, would this be more encouraging?  The obvious answer is yes.

Clearly, the 30-50% of Americans who suffer from dental-phobia and avoid much need treatment could greatly profit from sedation dentistry techniques. Just one-two little tablets can eliminate white-knuckle syndrome and allow you to forget the entire treatment.

CAUSES
Dentists have used sedative techniques to calm their patients for more than 30 years. There are several causes of dental phobia.

• A fear of shots
• Hearing and feeling the dentist’s drill
• A strong gag reflex
• Sounds and smells of a dentist’s office
• Sensitive teeth
• Previous traumatic dental experience
• Anxious, phobic, fearful patient

TREATMENT OPTIONS
Sedation dentistry offers several options to help you cope with these fears. Whether you need a simple tooth cleaning or complex restorative dentistry, the fully accredited cosmetic dentists at Smile South Florida will design a sedation plan that will get you back in the chair.

Your tailored plan may include one or several of the following methods.

Pre-appointment Sedatives
Prescription medications taken before you arrive at the office will make you sleepy but not unconscious. While you’ll still be able to respond to your dentist’s requests, you likely won’t remember the entire experience.

In-office Sedatives
Administered orally, in-office sedatives will make you drowsy but still conscious. Once again, you likely will forget most or all of the visit. The oral sedative is an anxiolytic drug, which induces a state of consciousness where you are awake but have decreased anxiety with little or no memory of the treatment.

Nitrous Oxide (laughing gas)
Nitrous oxide will calm you but still allow you to respond to your dentist. Nitrous frequently is used in tandem with a pain-free, local anesthetic.

Because the treatments leave you in no shape to drive, it’s imperative you have a friend or relative drive you to and from your appointment.

HOW IT WORKS
The hardest part for many patients is simply making the appointment. Smile South Florida tries to make this process as easy as possible.

During the first visit, your dentist will take x-rays, examine your mouth and gather background information regarding your general health. You’ll then discuss your needs and expectations and draw up a treatment plan.

The next step is to prepare for your sedation visit. If you’ve elected for pre-appointment sedation, you’ll be given a prescription medication to take the night before your appointment to guarantee you sleep well and awake in a relaxed state.

Once at the office, you’ll receive additional medications to further relax you and eliminate pain. The experienced Smile South Florida team will monitor you throughout treatment.

Finally, your companion will need to drive you home and stay with you until you’ve fully recovered from the medication.

Most patients feel no side effects of treatment the following day, other than the joy of owning a lovely new smile.

WHO IS A CANDIDATE?
The dentists at Smile South Florida will screen you to ascertain if you’re qualified for sedation treatment. Variables to consider when choosing a sedation protocol include age, weight, anxiety level and general health.

LEARN MORE
Our goal for our sedation patients is to create a relaxed, comfortable, and safe experience for the patient, with little or no anxiety and little or no memory of the appointment. Sedated patients may feel like they slept through the entire appointment.

To schedule an appointment with one of our sedation cosmetic dentists, call 954.721.6950 (Broward County) or 561.347.7757 (Boca Raton) or send us an email.

Copyright © 2007 Sinai Marketing, Inc. and Smile South Florida. All rights reserved.

* New guidelines regarding antibiotics to prevent infective endocarditis - The American Heart Association recently updated its guidelines regarding which patients should take a precautionary antibiotic to prevent infective endocarditis (IE) before a trip to the dentist. [For more, click here]