Dental Information
Understanding Laser Dentistry
WaterlaseT HARD & SOFT Tissue Laser
The WaterlaseT Millennium® HARD & SOFT Tissue Laser features a patented laser-energized water technology that treats cavity preps precisely and safely with little or no discomfort to the patient. The water quickly and gently removes enamel, dentin and decay in Class I-V caries without causing heat or microfractures associated with traditional high-speed drills.
At the touch of a button, the WaterlaseT also effectively cuts and coagulates a wide variety of soft tissue procedures, including gingival recontouring, gingivectomies, troughing and frenectomies, with reduced soft tissue trauma and regression. It is also very effective at immediately desensitizing aphthous ulcers.
Click here to learn more about WaterlaseT Laser Dentistry.
Understanding Dental Anesthesia:
What Every Patient Should Know
Providing you with high-quality, appropriate care and making your dental visit as comfortable as possible are top priorities for the 143,000 members of the American Dental Association (ADA). Advances in dental techniques and medications can greatly reduce-even eliminate-discomfort during dental treatment, and your dentist and the ADA want you to know about them. Here are some of the options available to help alleviate anxiety or pain that may be associated with dental care:
Analgesics
Non-narcotic analgesics are the most commonly used drugs for relief of toothache or pain following dental treatment. This category includes aspirin, acetaminophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Ibuprofen.
Narcotic analgesics, such as those containing codeine, act on the central nervous system to relieve pain. They are used for more severe pain.
Local Anesthesia
Topical anesthetics are applied to mouth tissues with a swab to prevent pain on the surface level. Your dentist may use a topical anesthetic to numb an area in preparation for administering an injectable local anesthetic. Topical anesthetics also may be used to soothe painful mouth sores.
Injectable local anesthetics, such as Novocain, prevent pain in a specific area of your mouth during treatment by blocking the nerves that sense or transmit pain and numbing mouth tissues, They cause the temporary numbness often referred to as a "fat lip"' feeling. Injectable anesthetics may be used in such procedures as filling cavities, preparing teeth for crowns or treating gum disease.
Sedation and General Anesthesia
Anti-anxiety agents, such as nitrous oxide, or sedatives may help you relax during dental visits and often may be used along with local anesthetics. Dentists also can use these agents to induce "conscious sedation,' in which the patient achieves a relaxed state during treatment but can respond to speech or touch. Sedatives can be administered before, during or after dental procedures by mouth, inhalation or injection.
More complex treatments may require drugs that can induce "deep sedation," causing a loss of feeling and reducing consciousness in order to relieve both pain and anxiety. On occasion, patients undergo general anesthesia: in which drugs cause a temporary loss of consciousness. Deep sedation and general anesthesia may be recommended in certain procedures for children or others who have severe anxiety or who have difficulty controlling their movements.
Additional News and Information
