28
Mar
Dental sedation helps patients with anxiety receive essential dental care
Fear of the dentist isn’t limited to any particular age group, demographic, or gender. Sitting in the dentist’s chair, or even visiting the office can be a scary experience for some people. Often the fear is caused by a previous bad or painful experience as a child. Some patients are simply uncomfortable having someone so close to their personal space.
Fear of the dentist can cause patients to put off necessary dental treatment, even when they are experiencing pain or other symptoms. Drs. Rick Davis and Rick Schwartz of Endodontic Consultants of San Antonio see many fearful patients. They offer several options to relieve anxiety. They offer the following types of conscious sedation.
- Nitrous oxide: This is a good choice for patients who only need to “take the edge off.” Nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, is the mildest form of sedation that allows patients to be awake but completely comfortable. Because it’s administered in the office and inhaled through a mask, the effects begin and stop almost immediately. Therefore, patients can drive themselves to and from the appointment.
- Oral sedation: Oral sedation is a level up from nitrous oxide, and is administered as a pill. Patients take one pill about an hour prior to the appointment. Sometimes we give them a second pill before starting treatment, depending on the effect of the first one. They tend to doze throughout the appointment. They must have a companion to drive them to and from our office, and then take a nap when they get home.
- IV sedation: IV sedation is the deepest level of sedation we offer at Endodontic Consultants. It is for patients who want to be asleep through the whole procedure. With IV sedation, the sedative drugs are administered directly into the bloodstream through an IV. These patients will need a companion to drive them home.
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New Patients: (210) 405-0473 | Existing Patients: (210) 497-6699
With oral and especially IV sedation, patients usually remember little if anything from the appointment after the drugs wear off.
Drs. Davis and Schwartz know that dental procedures can be frightening and will help make sure you feel comfortable during your treatment. For more information about conscious sedation services offered by Endodontic Consultants of San Antonio, call our office today at (210) 405-0473.
Dr. Richard Davis, DDS
Richard D. Davis, DDS, graduated from high school in Japan, attended the University of Washington dental school, and joined the Air Force as a general dentist in 1978. He completed the Air Force one-year AEGD residency, a two-year Advanced General Dentistry Residency, and a fellowship in biomaterials at the University of Indiana. Dr. Davis was a clinical instructor, research director, and lecturer at the Air Force. He has published many scientific articles and research papers, and has lectured on many topics. Following retirement from the Air Force in 1999, he completed the graduate program in endodontics at the University of Oregon in 2001, and joined Dr. Schwartz and has been in private practice in endodontics since then.
Dr. Richard Schwartz, DDS
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Richard S. Schwartz, DDS, graduated from the University of Minnesota dental school in 1977. He was a restorative dentist for 19 years: Early in his career, he attended a two-year general dentistry residency while in the US Air Force, and then did a combination of private practice, teaching, and dental materials research before entering endodontic post-graduate training in 1996. He has authored over 100 articles and abstracts in scientific journals and lectured extensively in the US and in 21 other countries, including 12 times at the American Association of Endodontists’ national meeting. Since 1998 Dr. Schwartz has been in full-time private practice in endodontics in San Antonio, TX, and has practiced with Dr. Davis since 2001. He was a founding member and first secretary/treasurer of the International Association of Endodontics. He is also a member of the American Dental Association and International Association of Dental Specialists.
