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.

Oral Sedation in Arizona: Helping Countless Patients to Overcome Anxiety and Fear

This article discusses the use of sedative medications in patients that have long suffered discomfort, be it mild anxiety or debilitating fear, associated with the dentist and dental treatment.

Qualified and experienced dentist, Dr Kevin Gasser in Arizona, has come to the rescue of thousands of people that suffer from crippling anxiety and stress associated with those bi-annual dental check-ups. Even the most stoic and hardened of patients feels that flutter of nerves as they sit awaiting their treatment in the dentist’s chair. This slight case of the nerves, of course, increases exponentially with the size and complexity of the procedure or treatment administered during the appointment. So what about patients that suffer a debilitating phobia of dental treatment? Do they avoid the dentist altogether? Unfortunately, for thousands of patients around the country, this is the case and the result is that their oral health and hygiene are being unnecessarily neglected. Thankfully, oral sedation in Arizona offers a way out of all those terrible physical and psychological fear symptoms, thus enabling patients to get the treatment they need in order to keep their teeth and gums in top condition!

What is Oral Sedation in Arizona?

Oral sedation in Arizona involves the administering of relaxant medications (or tranquillizers) in pill-form prior to a dental procedure. These medications, explains Dr Kevin Gasser in Arizona, are designed to affect the Central Nervous System (CNS) and induce a consuming sense of calm, detachment from reality and relaxation. While patients are completely aware of what’s going around them, oral sedation in Arizona removes the fear trigger associated with certain visual (needles, sharp implements), audio (dentist’s drill) and other sensory stimuli. As a result, Dr Kevin Gasser in Arizona is able to complete longer and more complex procedures in a single appointment without causing any undue stress or discomfort to the patient. How it works is simple: for oral sedation in Arizona, patients are given one or two pills prior to their appointment so that they begin their treatment feeling completely relaxed and anxiety-free!

Why Opt for Oral Sedation in Arizona?

While most people opt to receive a relaxant prior to their dental appointment for the above-mentioned reason (in the prevention of anxiety and stress), there are a host of other benefits afforded by oral sedation in Arizona:

• Some patients have a low pain threshold and, even with simple procedures, can benefit from the ease and comfort offered by oral sedation in Arizona.
• Sedatives can help patients with an uncontrollable gag reflex, explains Dr Kevin Gasser in Arizona.
• Oral sedation in Arizona enables the dentist to perform longer and more complex procedures in a single sitting without causing the patient any discomfort. This works out in the patient’s favor financially.
• Because oral sedation in Arizona renders a patient’s dental experience completely pain and anxiety-free, they no longer tend to put off their bi-annual appointments. As a result, dental problems are attended to in a timely manner, thus maintaining a much higher standard of oral health and hygiene.

A Final Note on Oral Sedation in Arizona

Dr Kevin Gasser in Arizona is helping patients to overcome the crippling fear associated with the dentist’s chair through the administration of gentle medications designed to safely affect the CNS. The induced state of relaxation by oral sedation in Arizona enables patients to comfortably and easily have tooth extractions, wisdom teeth removal, dental implants and other procedures performed in order to maintain optimal oral health and hygiene!

All on 4 Dental Implants in Scottsdale: Defy Age with a Smile Make-Over!

"This article describes the procedure behind the sophisticated All-on-4dental implant protocol for the treatment of edentulous and near-edentulouspatients."

Allon 4 dental implants in Scottsdale are a revolutionary concept in fixed oralrehabilitation that enables a qualified and skilled implant dentist, such as Dr Kevin Gasser in Arizona, to give you,the patient, an entire set of beautiful, non-removable (fixed) and immediatelyfunctional teeth. The best part is that All on 4 dental implants in Scottsdalealmost always makes this incredible feat possible in as little as a single day!Periodontal (gum) disease is a pervasive problem that affects, in some form orstage, a staggering 80% of all Americans.

Accordingto the Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, by the age of 65 a massive30% of us will not have a single original adult tooth left due to the ravagesof this disease. So, with these statistics in mind, there are literallymillions of people desperately in need of complete oral rehabilitation, but whohave thus far been making do with older technologies, such as removabledentures or false teeth. All on 4 dental implants in Scottsdale make itpossible for Dr Kevin Gasser in Arizona to use only four dental implants tooffer patients a comprehensive solution to rampant tooth loss andtoothlessness. And this solution is onethat far surpasses any benefits previously afforded by traditional toothreplacement techniques. Here’s how All on 4 dental implants in Scottsdale work…

TheProcedure behind All on 4 Dental Implants in Scottsdale

Allon 4 dental implants in Scottsdale, as the name suggests, involves the surgicalplacement of only four dental implants in regions of the jaw where therenaturally exists a greater volume of bone tissue. The anterior (front) portionof the jaw will usually contain enough bone volume to support dental implantsin Scottsdale because it is more resistant to atrophy, explains Dr Kevin Gasserin Arizona. And this is a problem that arises in cases of acute and chronicperiodontal disease. The more posterior dental implants (see picture above) are strategically inserted at an angle so as toallow for ample support for a fixed bridge while avoiding damage to the nervecanal in the lower jaw and the sinus cavity in the upper jaw. Once the surgicalphase of All on 4 dental implants in Scottsdale has been drawn to a close, DrKevin Gasser in Arizona will affix a fully customized prosthetic dental bridgeto the abutments or collars of the four dental implants, which can usually be accomplishedthat very same day. This prosthesis is expertly fabricated from molds that havebeen taken of a patient’s teeth and gums during a prior appointment.

AFinal Note on All on 4 Dental Implants in Scottsdale

Notonly does this innovative procedure give patients new teeth that function andfeel just like a full set of healthy and natural teeth, but the overall resultsare truly age-defying! With All on 4 dental implants in Scottsdale, the challenges and repeated costs associated withremovable dentures are truly over and patients are free to enjoy a much higherquality of life complete with a confident and beautiful smile!

Dental Implants in Chandler: Say No to Denture Drama!

This article describes the challenges associated with removable dentures – challenges overcome by dental implants - and ends with a brief discussion on the sophisticated ‘All-on-Four’ dental implants protocol.

Removable dentures (colloquially referred to as ‘false teeth’) have long been the solution for patients presenting with multiple missing teeth in Arizona, which is generally a result of decay and periodontal (gum) disease. We rely upon our teeth for essential functions such as eating and articulation in speech, even though we might not be very conscious about the latter. But our teeth are also what make our smile beautiful, supporting our lower facial structure and helping us to retain our natural youthful appearance. Tooth loss and edentulism are just a few of the symptoms of periodontal disease; an affliction characterized by an acute and chronic bacterial infection of the gums and bone surrounding the teeth. Bad breath, bone loss, tooth discoloration and oral lesions in the gums also cause endless problems for those who suffer from it. The statistics of missing teeth in Arizona are dire. Approximately 30% of adults above the age of 65 are completely edentulous while the majority of those between the ages of 35 and 44 have lost between 11 and 15 of their permanent adult teeth. While you could always choose to embrace your edentulism (and there are many that do), for most people, this is not a viable solution to be considered. What is viable, are dental implants in Chandler.

Dental Implants in Chandler: Past and Present Solutions to Missing Teeth in Arizona

With so many people facing an uncertain future in terms of their oral health, functionality and aesthetics, it helps to know there is a solution for missing teeth in Arizona that allows them to enjoy a much higher quality of life: dental implants in Chandler. Unfortunately, removable dentures have long been prescribed by dentists to the edentulous to help them cope with eating, speaking and socializing, even without a single original adult tooth left in their mouth. However, these prosthetic devices, unlike dental implants in Chandler come with a whole slew of challenges and problems:

• Unlike dental implants in Chandler, dentures aren’t fixed in the mouth, so they shift around and can even fall out at the most inopportune moment, usually leading to a person losing self-confidence and sometimes to acute social embarrassment.
• Unlike dental implants in Chandler, they harbor food and bacteria causing bad breath.
• Unlike dental implants in Chandler, dentures rely on the gums and surrounding teeth (if any) for support causing tooth damage, sore and inflamed gums, and bone loss due to constant pressure on the toothless ridges.
• Unlike dental implants in Chandler, dentures incur the repeated need for products, such as anesthetic gels and adhesives (which are messy) and this all adds up in the long run!
• Unlike dental implants in Chandler, removable dentures require removal after eating for cleaning and at nighttime, which can prove to be embarrassing and inconvenient, especially when dining out.
• Unlike dental implants in Chandler, dentures can never fit perfectly. No matter how skilled the craftsmanship that goes into the fabrication of the prosthesis, it will never perfectly mold to the natural contours of the mouth. In fact, its fit will only worsen with time due to unimpeded bone loss in the jaw. As a result, dentures often distort the smile by stretching the lips.

Dental Implants in Chandler: Modern Day Solutions to Missing Teeth in Arizona

So, if removable dentures have so many challenges associated with them, then what better alternative is there? Thankfully, modern advanced oral surgery techniques have kept up with the demand for more sophisticated and comprehensive solutions to missing teeth in Arizona. ‘All-on-Four’ dental implants in Chandler are a perfect example of innovative, evidence-based dental science. All-on-4 dental implants in Chandler enable qualified and experienced implant dentists to place a fixed and non-removable prosthetic dental bridge that looks, feels and functions exactly like a mouth full of natural, healthy teeth. In other words, All-on-4 dental implants in Chandler allows patients with a mouthful of non-restorable/non-fixable teeth that are either decayed or have periodontal disease to leave the dental clinic the very same day with a new set of permanent teeth that are supported by four implants in the upper jaw and four implants in the lower jaw! Thanks to the incredible technology that is dental implants in Chandler, removable dentures and all their challenges and repeated costs are a thing of the past!

The History of Dental Implants in Arizona

This article takes a sweeping look at the history of dental implants from earliest archaeological evidence of teeth replacement technology to the latest and most sophisticated implant protocols.

While archaeological evidence dating back to 600AD has been unearthed telling us that the concept behind dental implants in Arizona is one that has been around for many, many centuries, the discovery that led to the design and perfection of a comprehensive solution for missing teeth in Arizona was made in 1951, by Swedish professor and orthopedic surgeon, Per-Ingvar Brånemark (see picture below). The history of dental implants in Arizona is an interesting one: as it was mentioned, there is evidence that ancient civilizations made use of various materials such as bone, ivory, gold and sea shells to replace single and multiple teeth that had gone missing due to any of a myriad of causes, including physical trauma or decay. Of course, these replacements were more aesthetic than anything else, since there was nothing actually ‘rooting’ the bone or shell fragment in the underlying jaw bone and consequently, it would move around and fall out. However, a millennium and a half later, in 1951, a fundamental discovery by Professor Per-Ingvar Brånemark revealed that the concept of dental implants and a long-term solution to single and multiple missing teeth in Arizona was entirely possible!

Dental Implants in Arizona and the Discovery of Osseointegration

The discovery was that the metal titanium displayed the unique property of being able to form a strong biological bond with bone tissue; a process termed ‘osseointegration’. The professor immediately saw the incredible potential of titanium in orthopedic surgery in the reparation and replacement of bones and joints in the human body. This of course included using it to fabricate dental implants that would not only take the place of missing teeth in Arizona, but would actually fuse with the jaw bone to offer a long-term and fixed solution. Today, dental implants in Arizona represent perhaps the most important advancement in dental science and oral care to have been made in recent decades.


Dental Implants in Arizona: Modern Day Marvels
It was this fundamental discovery in 1951 that has made dental, and indeed, medical science capable of what it is today. So how do dental implants in Arizona work? Quite essentially, patient’s presenting with single or multiple missing teeth in Arizona are considered for the procedure. If there is sufficient bone volume at the site/s of the missing teeth, then the procedure is entirely straightforward and involves the careful placement of a tiny titanium fixture or screw – the artificial ‘tooth roots’ of dental implants in Arizona - into a predrilled socket. An aesthetic and functional ceramic crown is then affixed to the top of it, which is the component of the implant that will be visible above the gum line. In cases of previous tooth loss or advanced periodontal (gum) disease, the bone tissue in the jaw can atrophy or become deteriorated by bacterial infection, in which case bone grafting surgery may be required beforehand. This procedure augments and encourages the growth of new and healthy hard tissue that, once healed, will be able to support dental implants in Arizona.

A Final Note on Dental Implants in Arizona

A long history of important discoveries, clinical research and endless trials has enabled modern day dentists, such as Dr. Kevin Gasser, to provide a functional and aesthetic solution to single and multiple missing teeth in Arizona. Dental implants in Arizona are virtually indistinguishable from natural, healthy teeth, are non-removable (fixed) and are designed from high quality durable materials to last several decades, if not a lifetime!