Posts Tagged ‘nitrous oxide’
Friday, May 3rd, 2013
I have not been to the dentist in two years. Every time I go, I gag so bad that the dentist tells me to get out of here. There was this time when I got kicked out of the dentist because they thought I was going to beat them up because I was forming a fist during the appointment. Is there a way to somehow suppress or numb my gagging? But yeah, my gagging is SO BAD that my mouth won’t allow a mouth mirror to enter it. I want to cooperate to get out of there ASAP but my gagging gets in the way. Any suggestions?
Thanks, Peter in Illinois
Dear Peter,
As dental professionals patients gag often, however there are some that have a severe gag reflex so your not alone. Research suggest, that about one out of every five patients gag during a routine dental exam or while dental work is being completed. Many people have a fear of the dentist or get nervous prior to an appointment and this brings on anxiety. We are not sure if you experience anxiety or not but it sounds like you would truly like to get your dental work finished, however having anxiety prior and during treatment makes ones gag reflex a lot worse.
As by now, your dentist knows of your gagging problem and should be willing to work with you. If not, find one who will. If you choose to find another dentist, it is important to let him or her know of your gagging problem. There are several ways to suppress ones gagging reflex. One way to prevent gagging is to have a topical numbing agent, like hurricane spray, dispensed in the mouth. This will numb the tissues and help suppress gagging. Another option is to put table salt in your mouth and swallow it. Just a dash of salt actually prevents gagging well. A rubber dam can used during restorative dental treatment. This device is placed over the tooth that is getting worked on to prevent debris and water from reaching the back of the throat. Some patients even benefit from nitrous oxide, which is laughing gas. This actually helps reduce anxiety and relaxes one, however you are still aware of what is happening around you. This adds a little more expense to your treatment, however well worth it and significantly reduces most gagging in those who suffer from it.
When gagging is severe it may be difficult at times for even a highly experienced dentist to treat a patient. Most of these types of patients though suffer from a dental phobia as well. Valium is a sedation dentistry technique where the dentist issues the prescription drug to help sedate the patient and make them feel relaxed and comfortable. As a last resort, one can be put to sleep by general anesthesia. Most dentist are not qualified to perform this, however those trained in this field have gone into dental offices and worked with the dentist in sedating patients. This usually is not covered under dental insurance and can cost several hundred dollars.We recommend you consult with your dentist regarding your options. Since gagging is a problem for you we also advise you to keep your dental appointments short and schedule them in the mornings. Best of luck.
This post is sponsored by Cleveland dentist Hylan Dental Care.
Tags: fear of the dentist, gagging reflex, nitrous oxide, scared of the dentist, sedation dentist, sedation dentistry, sleep dentist, sleep dentistry
Posted in Fear of the Dentist, Sedation Dentistry | Comments Off
Tuesday, April 9th, 2013
I am terrified of going to the dentist and truly want to overcome this fear. Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Carl in New Jersey
Dear Carl,
You are not alone. Thousands of people fear the dentists for many reasons. I applaud that you are attempting to face this fear and overcome it. The best thing that you can do is to go to the dentist when you are not in pain. A lot of our dental fear is rooted in past experiences. Look for a dentist that specializes in dental anxiety. These offices understand the fears associated with dental treatment and are ready and willing to help you. They cater to cowards and often allow extra time with patients so that you will not feel rushed and anxious. You are going to need a few gentle dentist appointments with the right dentist to rebuild your confidence. You will need to build a relationship of trust between you and the dentist or hygienist and this will take time.
Before treatment, ask them to “Show and Tell” by explaining what they will be doing and what instruments they will be using. This is to ensure that there are no surprises and helps you feel more in control. If the sounds of the office trouble you, you can bring headphones and music to listen to if you think that might help. Also bring a friend with you to the appointment for support. It is comforting to know that someone who cares is waiting for you after your appointment. If things are still too overwhelming, your dentist may suggest a mild sedative before your appointment or even nitrous oxide sedation during treatment. Nitrous oxide is sedation dentistry in the form of a gas that relaxes you while you are in the dental chair. It may be something that will help you until you get a few appointments completed and begin to feel more comfortable. With some perseverance and the right dental office you can overcome or at the very least, manage your dental fears.
This post is sponsored by Cleveland dentist Hylan Dental Care.
Tags: cater to cowards dentist, dental anxiety, dental fear, fear of the dentist, gentle dentist, gentle dentistry, laughing gas dentist, nitrous oxide, oral sedation, sedation dentist, sedation dentistry
Posted in Fear of the Dentist, Sedation Dentistry | Comments Off
Monday, February 25th, 2013
My teeth are super sensitive because the roots are exposed. I can’t even brush my teeth near the gum line without irritation. I have tried many different toothpastes, but nothing seems to work. Do you know if there is anything that can be done to help?
- Paul in Florida
Paul,
Root exposure and the sensitivity associated with it is terrible. I would meet with your dentist to explore your options. There is fluoride toothpaste and mouth rinse that my be helpful. One kind of fluoride is made of sodium and if that one doesn’t work for you, there is another that is stannous based. The latter seems to be more popular among patients. Give this method a try and give it some time, approximately six weeks or so. If that is unsuccessful, there is a fluoride treatment that can be applied to the exposed roots. This can be done at a normal cleaning or checkup. This will likely not be covered under your dental insurance. But the fee is small. Relief from this treatment should last for about six months and can be reapplied when you go in for dental cleanings.
If you still haven’t found that these options work for you, it may be recommended that you have the root surfaces covered with white composite fillings. This should work almost immediately, but it is usually not the first route that dentists will try. Typically dental insurance will cover this treatment, but you will be responsible for a co-pay. Most patients don’t require any anesthetic for white fillings. A gentle dentistry technique is music or movies to distract you. Or if you are particularly anxious, many dentists offer everything from nitrous to sedation dentistry.
Hopefully this information was helpful.
This post is sponsored by Cleveland dentist Hylan Dental Care.
Related link: Berea dentist
Tags: fluoride mouth rinse, fluoride toothpaste, fluoride treatment, gentle dentist, gentle dentistry, nitrous, nitrous oxide, root exposure, root sensitivity, sedation dentist, sedation dentistry, tooth sensitivity, white composite fillings, white fillings
Posted in Tooth Sensitivity, White Fillings | Comments Off
Wednesday, February 6th, 2013
I am trying to find out if every dentist will offer sedation dentistry to help with anxiety? I get pretty worked up at the thought of going to the dentist and was wondering if all dentists have this option or if I need to see a special dentist that advertises for it.
- Gentry in Ohio
Gentry,
You are totally not alone if you are scared of the dentist. Not every dentist offers sedation dentistry. But there are many dentists out there that actually build their practice and cater to cowards in helping fearful patients. If you are extremely fearful, you may want to do your homework and look around at your options. A gentle dentist uses techniques to help distract you like letting you watch movies or listen to music. Nitrous oxide is another option that may be available, which is often referred to as laughing gas. Another gentle dentistry technique is that they will also go very slowly and will stop to answer any questions you have and help you work through any discomfort.
The petrified dental patient will be lucky to even set foot in the office. Oral sedation is a completely safe and effective service that helps fearful patients get the care they need. All you have to do is take a pill about an hour before the appointment that the dentist prescribes. The medication will make you feel sleepy and it is pretty likely that you won’t remember anything about the dental procedure. Often times a very fearful patient may need a lot of work done at once. Sedation can help the dentist to do several procedures during this time which may have been difficult otherwise.
The bottom line is to have a trusting relationship with open communication. If you find the right dentist, hopefully you won’t even need sedation. But the right dentist won’t make you feel bad for how long it has been since you were in and will help you to get back into a regular routine of cleanings and office visits with the right demeanor and approach.
This post is sponsored by Cleveland dentist Hylan Dental Care.
Tags: cater to cowards dentist, conscious sedation, dental anxiety, dental fear, fear of the dentist, gentle dentist, gentle dentistry, nitrous, nitrous oxide, oral sedation, scared of the dentist, sedation dentist, sedation dentistry, sleep dentist, sleep dentistry
Posted in Fear of the Dentist, Sedation Dentistry | Comments Off
Sunday, January 27th, 2013
I just went to the dentist for my first filling. I’m not going to lie, I was a little bit anxious because he told me the filling was deep. When the drilling was going on I felt a sharp “zing” several times so he decided to give me another shot. That means I had a total of three shots. Although, the pain wasn’t really bad it just made me anticipate more pain. The dentist ended up leaving some of the decay and putting in a temporary filling and told me that I need a root canal. Do you think I really need to get a root canal or maybe they are over treating me because I felt some sharp pain?
- Jerry in Louisiana
Jerry,
Having to be told you need a root canal when you are only expecting a filling is a bit unnerving. The typical treatment plan when you need to have a filling is to get x-rays because the dentist can usually tell a lot from the x-ray. There is always a possibility that the x-ray may not reveal the need for a root canal and it can be discovered during the drilling. This is because the dentist may have had to do more drilling than what was first anticipated on the x-ray. What has likely happened to you is that during the drilling process the dentist realized that the decay has reached the pulp or nerve center of the tooth. This section is called the pulp chamber and it is also possible that you required more numbing shots because an infection may have already been starting. It is sometimes more difficult to numb the tooth when this happens.
Try not to stress about the root canal treatment. It is more complex than a filling and takes longer but is a routine treatment. There is nothing to be concerned about. Pretty much what is going to happen is that the decay will be removed and they will also remove the nerves inside the tooth root. Then the roots are sanitized and filled with some dental material. This process seals off the root section of the tooth. Then you will likely be prescribed an antibiotic to take care of the tooth infection. After the root canal treatment has been completed, you will need a dental crown. This will protect the tooth from any future breaking because there is no longer a blood flow to the tooth since the roots have been removed. The crown provides extra strength and protection.
If you are extremely anxious or nervous, you can ask your dentist about sedation dentistry. Oral sedation simply involves taking a pill before your appointment. Or if you want something stronger than Novocain but don’t want to be knocked out, you may be a candidate for nitrous oxide.
This post is sponsored by Cleveland dentist Hylan Dental Care.
Tags: dental anxiety, dental crown, dental fear, nitrous oxide, porcelain crown, root canal, root canal treatment, sedation dentist, sedation dentistry, sleep dentist, sleep dentistry, tooth infection
Posted in Dental Crown, Root Canal Treatment, Sedation Dentistry | Comments Off
Wednesday, November 21st, 2012
Let me start off by saying that I really don’t like going to the dentist. And last week I noticed that my tooth felt kind of sharp. When I checked it out in the mirror, it appears that a small portion of the tooth is gone. I have never had a filling before and I’m terrified of needles. It isn’t hurting me or anything so I just try not to eat on that side. Do you know if a temporary filling can be done?
- Natalie in Virgina
Natalie,
You are not alone. Did you know that there are millions of Americans that get anxious about dentistry. There are dentists out there that use gentle dentistry techniques and sedation dentistry for fearful patients. Sedation dentistry is safe and simple and many patients will tell you that they don’t remember anything at all about the appointment. You are conscious but will be put into a sleepy, indifferent state. Oral sedation has helped many people deal with and manage their fear of the dentist and only involves taking a pill prior to your dental appointment. If you are just a bit anxious, nitrous oxide is a milder form of sedation dentistry. It is a relaxant gas that is breathed in during your appointment and may work for you.
But to answer your question about the broken tooth, it all depends on the severity of your case. A composite filling may work to fill the space. Or if more than half of the tooth is damaged than a dental crown may be the more appropriate treatment. It doesn’t sound like you need to schedule an emergency dentist appointment if you are not in pain. But this issue should be taken care of as soon as practical. It sounds like you may be a good sedation dentistry candidate.
This post is sponsored by Parma dentist Hylan Dental Care.
Tags: broken tooth, chipped tooth, dental crown, dental emergency, dental fear, emergency dentist, fear of the dentist, gentle dentist, nitrous oxide, oral sedation, porcelain crown, sedation dentist, sedation dentistry
Posted in Dental Emergencies, Porcelain Crowns, Sedation Dentistry | Comments Off