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Although conscious sedation could be achieved using only pills, we have found over many years of practice that IV sedation works best because we can “titrate to effect” which is another way of saying we can safely sedate you to a level which is appropriate for the planned dental procedure and for your anxiety level. Another benefit is that we can keep you comfortable even after you’ve left the office and the local anesthesia has worn off. This is done through IV analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs administered during the procedure.
When a sedative is administered into the blood system during dental treatment, this is referred to as Intravenous Conscious Sedation (aka “IV sedation”).
As far as sutures are concerned, they may be used if the soft tissues (gums) need to be separated from the teeth for better access during removal or if any bone regeneration techniques are performed.
August 10, 2010
I will be getting several teeth pulled at once. What type of anesthesia do you use for this? Do you have to stitch the gums closed afterwards?
August 5, 2010
I am 76 years old and have osteoporosis. This has never interfered with any dental procedures that I have had, but now I need several dental implants. Could there be a problem with getting the implants to embed in the bone of the jaw in my case?
The risk of having a problem could be greater than that of a patient who does not have osteoporosis but that doesn’t necessarily mean you cannot have dental implants. Of most importance is to know whether or not you are taking bisphosphonates. Second, we need to learn more about your specific circumstances regarding the osteoporosis. Third, we need to evaluate your specific dental needs as well as expectations you have regarding the implants. Assuming that you have been cleared for treatment, the surface of the implants should be highly advanced for bone integration. Most modern surface are but this must be confirmed. One of the things we do is “wet” the implant surface in the patients own growth factors (isolated from the blood plasma) just seconds before placing it to aid in the bone to surface integration. Because most of the load or force occurs in the top third of the implant once integrated, wider is better. The length of the implant will influence the initial stabilization and healing period. Immediate or early loading of the implants should be avoided and more time than usual should be given for healing and integration before the teeth are attached. Once the teeth are attached, it would be beneficial to “tie” or splint the implants together with the prosthesis or by connecting the crowns to help dissipate the chewing forces
August 4, 2010
Could Good Oral Health Help Prevent Dementia?
In a editorial commentary. Dr. Robert Stewart at the Institute of Psychiatry Kings College London, notes the oral health of people with cognitive impairment should, at the very least, receive more clinical attention.
He adds: “If there are good reasons to suspect a link between oral health and cognition, why has this received so little attention to date? The obvious but rather prosaic reason is the historic separation between medicine and dentistry. Clinical specialists have long been a hindrance to effective research (an example being the lack of attention paid to the vascular etiology of dementia) and it is about time that we accepted that disorders do not necessarily follow the way we structure our professions.”
New Affordable All-on-4™ Dental Implants
All on 4™ is a relatively new implant option in the United States but has been done for many years with great success in Europe. This technique uses fewer implants that are placed at mechanical inclinations to maximize support. Because fewer implants are used this means lower treatment fees. Because we have a CT Scan in our facility, the deliberate use of angled implant placement allows us to avoid important anatomical areas that previously required bone grafting. Eliminating the need for costly bone grafting saves money as well as months of healing. We could perform the implant placement with sedation and place teeth later the same day if you wish. The All on 4™ option provides a comparable long term outcome to Teeth in An Hour™ by attaching teeth that do not have to be removed. All on 4™ saves time and money and we are excited to make this option available to our patients.
August 1, 2010
If I get a dental implant, will that help restore bone that has been lost? I know that I have to have a bone graft first, but after the implant, does that new bone grow more bone and fill in the area to make it stronger? I am worried about bone loss affecting surrounding teeth in the future.
A dental implant will not create more bone volume (size) but it will make the bone that IS there much stronger and more dense unlike a bridge or a removable partial denture which can actually contribute to more bone loss. In situations where bone grafting is absolutely necessary, keep in mind that all bone grafts and techniques are not the same and they could vary from case to case. Also the health of the teeth ,the gingiva and bone surrounding them that will be next to the dental implants must be evaluated in the early stages of planning the case. The best way to not risk bone loss is to prevent it and plan against it with a comprehensive evaluation including a periodontal examination in addition to the implant consult.
