Dental Implants AZ: Your Pearly Whites are Far From Permanent!

This article describes the many different ways teeth can become irreparably damaged or decayed and require extraction and replacement.

Your teeth are composed of the hardest substance in the human body, dental enamel. Stronger even than bone; it is the job of dental enamel to protect the delicate inner workings of the tooth, where all the nerves, blood vessels and connective tissues are housed. But as strong as this substance is and as invulnerable as your teeth may seem - especially in your youth - your pearly whites are far from permanent! Missing teeth and the need for dental implants AZ is a problem that affects the vast majority of the population, whether it’s a single tooth or all of them. According to statistics released by the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, 69% of adults between the ages of 35 and 44 have lost at least one of their original teeth. And a staggering 26% of adults will have lost all of their permanent teeth by the age of 74! What causes missing teeth and the need for dental implants AZ? And what can we do to make sure that we don’t just become another of these dire statistics? Read on…

Dental Implants AZ: What Causes Missing Teeth?

There are an incredible number and variety of factors that can cause one or more of your pearly whites to become irreparably damaged and/or decayed and require replacement with dental implants AZ. The dental implant AZ specialists involved in teeth replacement have seen the full suite of cases and here are the most frequent causes:

Dental Implants AZ and Tooth Decay: Our mouths are teeming with bacteria at any given second of the day. Plaque, the sticky whitish substance that accumulates on our teeth in between brushing IS bacteria! In fact, there are over 100 different kinds of bacteria in plaque and this highlights the importance of regular and thorough brushing and flossing. Unfortunately, too many people believe that a quick brush in the morning and before they go to bed at night is sufficient to protect their teeth and gums against these tiny pathogens and the results, as we can see, are the dental implant AZ statistics. Bacterial infection can be isolated around a single tooth. Given that these micro-organisms are highly opportunistic, it just takes a tiny crack, fissure or cavity to provide them with a pathway directly into the tooth structure and when this happens, invasive measures are required to eliminate infection. This might require a root canal procedure if a patient wants to avoid ever needing dental implants AZ.

Dental Implants AZ and Oral Bacterial Infection: Lifelong poor oral hygiene, certain medications, chronic illness and bad habits such as smoking, drug abuse and excessive alcohol consumption can all cause one to require teeth replacement with dental implants AZ by rendering the soft tissues in the mouth vulnerable to bacterial infection. This condition, known as ‘gingivitis,’ can begin with mild inflammation of the gums, swelling, bad breath and some bleeding when brushing or eating. But left untreated, an oral bacterial infection in the mouth can become acute and chronic, progressing to a condition known as ‘periodontitis,’ or gum disease. Gum disease is one of the leading causes of tooth loss and the need for dental implants AZ.

Dental Implants AZ and Accidental Trauma: You don’t have to be sloppy about looking after your teeth in order to require dental implants AZ! All it takes is some accidental trauma to the face or mouth, which can easily be sustained in a car accident for example, to have one or more of your teeth so badly damaged that they fall out or require extraction.

What You Can Do To Avoid Needing Dental Implants AZ

There are four very simple guidelines when it comes to avoiding the need for dental implants AZ. Adhere to these and you will, in all likelihood, make it to your twilight years with your beautiful original smile intact!

Avoiding the Need for Dental Implants AZ Tip # 1: Brush those pearly whites thoroughly twice a day for two minutes at a time and floss every day before you go to bed at night.

Avoiding the Need for Dental Implants AZ Tip # 2: Visit the dentist and hygienist once every six months for a comprehensive check-up and routine cleaning. Seek immediate professional attention if you ever notice any unusual oral problems or dental pain.

Avoiding the Need for Dental Implants AZ # 3: Live healthily. Eat balanced meals, drink plenty of water, restrict the amount of sugar you eat and kick unhealthy habits, such as cigarette smoking.

Avoiding the Need for Dental Implants AZ # 4: Never get too close to a horse’s hindquarters and make sure you give toddlers on swings a wide berth. Accidental trauma to the face is never planned, but you can make sure you minimize the risk of requiring dental implants AZ because of it!

Your Fears Assuaged by Sun City Dental Professionals: FAQ on Oral Sedation

"This article addresses some of the fears and concerns patients have about oral conscious sedation, an anti-anxiety drug administered via a pill just before a dental procedure."

A fear of Sun City dental treatment, whether it’s of the clinical whiteness of the exam room itself, the whine of the dentist’s drill or the prospect of needles, is something that affects a huge number of patients. Experienced Sun City dental professional, Dr. Kevin Gasser, has become entirely accustomed to dealing with patients that experience the entire spectrum of physical responses to fear and anxiety, from mildly sweating palms and a quickened heartbeat, to full on terror and tremors at the prospect of requiring some kind of procedure done. Oral sedation has gained immense popularity amongst patients that traditionally couldn’t bear the thought of their bi-annual Sun City dental appointments. Now, thanks to oral sedation, these patients are able to receive the professional attention they need to keep their oral health and hygiene in the best possible condition. In order to help you understand more about sedation dentistry, Dr. Gasser will, in this article, be answering some of your frequently asked questions.

Sun City Dental FAQ # 1: What does oral sedation involve?

The Sun City Dentist Answers: Oral sedation involves the delivery of anti-anxiety sedative medications, generally in pill-form. Patients are required to take one or two of these pills at least 30 minutes before their Sun City dental appointment in order for the effects to kick in on time for their treatment. Owing to the wonderful relaxing effect they have on patients, the Sun City dentist medications used for oral sedation are also referred to as “happy pills.”

Sun City Dental FAQ # 2: What kind of medication is used in oral sedation?

The Sun City Dentist Answers: The drugs used in oral conscious sedation typically belong to the Benzodiazepine family, also referred to as “Benzos.” You will probably be most familiar with the brand names Halcion, Valium, Xanax and Ativan.

Sun City Dental FAQ # 3: How does oral sedation work?

The Sun City Dentist Answers: Benzodiazepines work to decrease anxiety (and its associated physical effects) by binding to the receptors in the brain responsible for controlling fear. By reducing the activity of these regions of the brain, a patient feels far more relaxed, sleepy and detached from reality.

Sun City Dental FAQ # 4: Is there anything I need to be aware of when undergoing oral sedation?

The Sun City Dentist Answers: Benzodiazepines are very safe and their effects highly predictable so patients need not worry about any negative side-effects. There are a few contraindications for this medication, including impaired lung and kidney function, being overweight and having sleep apnea. These medications shouldn’t be mixed with any other Central Nervous System (CNS) depressants and this includes alcohol. Last, but not least, because oral sedation is usually administered 30 minutes prior to a Sun City dental appointment, if not before, patients are urged not to drive to and from the dentist’s office. You may very well become disorientated and your impaired concentration will make it dangerous for you to drive. If you plan on catching a bus or train, make sure someone goes with you, or you might end up missing your stop!

Sun City Dental FAQ # 5: What can I expect to feel under oral sedation?

The Sun City Dentist Answers: Most patients describe a feeling of light-headedness, of total relaxation and detachment from reality. It’s like being in a dream, only you are aware of what’s going on around you and can respond coherently to the dentist’s questions and prompts. Once the procedure is complete and a patient has recovered from the effects of oral sedation, it is common for them to not be able to recall anything, or at least very little about their Sun City dental experience. This is because oral sedation tends to cause amnesia for the duration during which the medication is in the body.

Sun City Dentistry: FAQ on IV Sedation, PART 2

This article, part 2 of 2, addresses some of the fears and concerns patients have about intravenous (IV) sedation, an anti-anxiety drug administered into the bloodstream during a dental procedure.

In our previous article post, Sun City dentistry professional, Dr. Kevin Gasser began answering some of your frequently asked questions about IV or intravenous conscious sedation. A great number of patients struggle with some form or severity of anxiety or fear when the time comes for their bi-annual Sun City dentistry appointment. This anxiety obviously compounds at the prospect of having to undergo a dental procedure or surgery, such as a root canal, tooth extraction or dental implant placement. Thankfully, IV sedation renders the entire experience completely anxiety and fear-free. This not only makes it infinitely easier for the patient to receive the treatment they need to maintain a high standard of oral health, it also makes it far easier for the dentist to perform the procedure. In the first installment of this two-part series, Dr. Gasser answered questions ranging from “what is IV sedation” and “what does it feel like” to “will I remember anything from the procedure?” In this article, the final installment, he shall continue to address more of your FAQs.

FAQ # 4: Will my gums need to be numbed if I’m under IV sedation?

Sun City Dentistry Answer: The medications used for IV sedation are not analgesics (pain killing), they’re anti-anxiety. While Sun City dentistry professionals use IV sedation to relax you and make you forget what happens, you will still need to receive a local anesthetic for any procedure that is invasive in nature.

FAQ # 5: I have a fear of needles; will I be numbed after IV sedation or before?

Sun City Dentistry Answer: Fear not! The dentist will first administer IV sedation and wait for the effects to fully kick in before he brings out the needles to numb the region of your mouth requiring work. By this stage you will be far too relaxed and detached to care. Sun City dentistry professionals will then only begin the procedure once the anesthetic has taken effect, so the entire experience will be completely pain and anxiety-free.

FAQ # 6: What drugs are used for IV sedation?

Sun City Dentistry Answer: The most commonly used anti-anxiety sedative medication belongs to the benzodiazepine family (usually Midazolam or Diazepam). These, says Dr. Gasser, are short-acting drugs, which have the following effects:

- They make a patient sleepy and relaxed
- They reduce, if not eliminate, anxiety
- They induce partial or total amnesia

FAQ # 7: Does IV sedation have any contraindications? Is it safe?

Sun City Dentistry Answer: When carried out by a qualified and experienced dentist, IV sedation is extremely safe and the effects are totally predictable. It’s even safer than local anesthetic! Having said this, IV sedation has a few contraindications, which include alcohol intoxication, a known allergy to benzodiazepines, and some instances of glaucoma, pregnancy and Central Nervous System (CNS) depression. Heart disease is not generally a contraindication, but being overweight and having a habit of snoring should be mentioned to your treating Sun City dentistry professional. Advanced age, sleep apnea and impaired kidney or lung function are also contraindicated.

Sun City Dentistry: the Benefits of IV Sedation

The greatest benefit of IV sedation is that it enables patients to receive the professional attention they need and the Sun City dentistry procedures necessary to keep their oral health in tip-top shape. Dental anxiety and fear are very real afflictions that frequently deter patients from keeping their bi-annual appointments. With a far less stressful experience in the examination chair, Sun City dentistry professionals are able to perform all dental procedures from start to finish without breaking them down into smaller and more manageable sessions. This not only benefits the patient in comfort and convenience, but financially too.

Your Fears Assuaged by the Sun City Dentist: FAQs on IV Sedation, PART 1

This article, part 1 of 2, addresses some of the fears and concerns patients have about intravenous (IV) sedation, an anti-anxiety drug administered into the bloodstream during a dental procedure.

If you thought you were alone in your irrational and even unmanageable fear of the Sun City dentist, think again! A fear of the dentist, the dentist’s chair and/or dental treatment is one of the most common phobias there are. It even has a name, ‘odontophobia.’ Thankfully, the accepted approach to treating patients that struggle with sweaty palms, an elevated heart rate, the tremors and even low blood pressure – physical symptoms associated with extreme anxiety and fear - has changed over the years. “In addition to anti-anxiety medications and pain-killers,” says experienced Sun City dentist, Dr. Kevin Gasser, “modern dental practices make it a priority to take patient psychology into account. They approach treatment with a very gentle hand.”

The availability of IV sedation in Sun City dentistry has also helped an incredible number of people receive the treatment they need to keep their oral health and hygiene on track without having to deal with all the terrible side effects of extreme anxiety and fear. So, if you traditionally struggle with odontophobia and want to find out more about IV sedation, read on! In this two part article series, the Sun City dentist endeavors to answer your Frequently Asked Questions.

FAQ # 1: What exactly is IV Sedation?

Answer: In the context of Sun City dentistry, IV sedation, or Intravenous Conscious Sedation, refers to the administering of an anti-anxiety drug directly into the bloodstream just before a dental procedure. “These medications,” explains Dr. Gasser, “are designed to affect the Central Nervous System safely, predictably and without negative side effects.”

FAQ # 2: What does IV sedation feel like?

Answer: Floating, drifting, happy, in a bathtub filled with warm and fuzzy cotton wool… every patient’s account of IV sedation differs slightly. And while it is sometimes referred to as “twilight sleep” or “sleep dentistry,” Intravenous sedation doesn’t actually put you to sleep as general anesthesia does, explains Sun City dentist Dr. Gasser. Rather, patients describe drifting off in a dream-like state that feels completely detached from reality, from what is happening to them in the dentist’s chair. Because of this detachment, triggers that might previously have caused severe anxiety or fear, such as the whine of the drill or the sight of a needle, is no longer upsetting. And this is, of course, beneficial to both the patient and the dentist.

FAQ # 3: Will I remember anything about the procedure while under IV sedation?

Answer: “While you remain conscious during IV sedation and can respond coherently to the dentist’s questions, you probably won’t remember much or anything at all about the procedure afterwards,” explains Sun City dentistry professional Dr. Gasser. “And this is because the medications used cause partial or complete amnesia (memory loss) for the period during which they are administered.” Patients that have undergone IV sedation frequently report the time having gone by extremely fast. One patient said to the Sun City dentist: “one minute you are fully aware of what’s going on and then the drugs kick in. The next minute it’s all over and you’re on your way home!”

Sun City Dentistry and IV Sedation: Stay Tuned

To read the answers to more questions on Sun City dentistry IV sedation, stay tuned for the final installment of this two-part article series.