With today's technology "painful" dentistry is a thing of the past. Options range from injectionless procedures using a tiny medicated, adhesive patch to full sedation. With many choices available, dental fear is a thing of the past!

Dr. Kazanis and her staff also use many other techniques to help nervous or fearful patients receive quality care while feeling comfortable. Proper medical monitoring is always used.

Conscious Sedation

Some children and adults become anxious in the dental office and can't relax or sit still long enough for the dentist to treat them. For these patients, we may suggest forms of oral medication or "laughing gas" that allows the patient to relax and/or become sleepy. This is called conscious sedation, since the patient is still responsive to conversation or stimulation and all his or her protective reflexes are working. It may involve inhaling a gas, taking an oral medication, getting an injection or receiving medication intravenously. Conscious sedation also may be used when a patient requires extensive dental treatment or has special needs. We can recommend which type of conscious sedation is best for you.

Nitrous Oxide

Nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, is most often used for patients who are mildly or moderately anxious or nervous. It eases their fears so that they can relax and receive treatment comfortably and safely. Nitrous oxide is administered by placing a small mask over your nose. The patient will be asked to breathe through his or her nose and not through the mouth. As the gas begins to work, the patient becomes calm, although he or she is still awake and can talk with the dentist. When the gas is turned off, the effects of sedation wear off almost immediately. 

Nitrous oxide is always delivered mixed with oxygen. To prevent overdose, nitrous oxide machines are designed to stop the flow of nitrous oxide if the oxygen concentration drops below 30 percent.

When the treatment has been completed, the nitrous oxide is turned off and pure oxygen is delivered for five to 10 minutes to help flush the patient's body of the gas. The effects of nitrous oxide disappear as oxygen is breathed.

Oral Sedation

Patients who are more anxious may need an oral medication that is stronger than nitrous oxide. Several medications have a significant calming effect. When choosing a medication, Dr. Kazanis will consider your anxiety level, the patient's ability to cooperate and the treatment required.

With oral sedation, you may be mildy sleepy but can be aroused if necessary and can respond to simple commands.

Other Methods Of Sedation

In addition to oral medications, other methods can be used to deliver sedative medications to a patient. They can be given through the nose, by suppository, by injection or intravenously.

These methods require more experience to be administered and monitored properly. Injections and intravenous medications should be used only be dentists or phyisicians with extensive training in these techniques.

Anesthesia

Sometimes it may be necessary for a patient, usually children to be unconscious in order for the dentist to safely complete needed dental treatment. This is very rare. General anesthesia puts a child into a deep sleep. He or she is unable to feel pain or to move around. This is the same kind of sleep a child would have if he or she were to have ear tubes placed or tonsils removed. Dr. Kazanis may recommend general anesthesia from a dental specialist if you or your child:

• Can't relax or calm down enough for treatment to be performed safely, even with conscious sedation and other behavior management techniques in order for treatment to be performed safely.
• Needs oral surgery or other dental treatment that would be difficult for the child to tolerate while awake
• Needs a lot of dental work that can best be done in one long appointment rather than many shorter visits
• Has a medical, physical or emotional disability that limits his or her ability to understand directions and be treated safely in an outpatient setting.

Although general anesthesia is often the best choice in these cases it is uncommonly neede and it also carries some risk. Dr. Kazanis will discuss the risks and benefits with you and explain why it might be right for you or your child.

General anesthesia for dental procedures can be provided by an anesthesiologist, dental anesthesiologist, pediatric dentists or oral and maxillofacial surgeon. These professionals are trained to deliver the medications and monitor patients during the procedure and handle any complications that may occur.

A physical examination before receiving general anesthesia is required to ensure you or your child doesn't have any conditions that could interfere with or be affected by the anesthesia.

On the day of the appointment:

Follow the guidelines the doctor providing the anesthesia gives you regarding food and fluid intake before and after the procedure.

Additional relaxtion techniques we use include:

• Hypnosis methods
• Aromatherapy
• Massage and heat therapy
• Visual and auditory distraction
• Noise reduction techniques