Have You Seen Your Dentist Lately?

Now that the New Year has officially arrived you may want to start 2016 off the right way by scheduling a dental appointment with your dentist.

According to Colgate, some people may only need to visit the dentist once a year; however, there are patients that should schedule dental appointments twice a year.

Over 50 years ago, people who were having dental examinations to enter the military didn’t have the best teeth and gums; in fact, they were in quite bad shape. Back then, most people did not take oral hygiene or oral health seriously, as there were really no guidelines when it came to how often you should see your dentist. These days’ dentists concentrate on preventive dentistry. Decades ago, most dentists focused on fixing dental problems instead of helping prevent them.

Your dentist explains that even if you practice good oral health habits, including brushing twice and flossing once each day along with a good diet, you still need to schedule annual or bi-annual appointments with your dentist.

During your dental appointment, your dentist will check for any problems that you cannot feel or see. Unfortunately, quite a few of the dental problems that occur are not visible until they are more advanced. These include gum disease, cavities, and oral cancer. When you see your dentist on a regular basis, any problems can be treated before they become serious.

Seeing a dentist twice a year works for most people, while some can go longer between visits. Other patients may require additional dental visits. People who are not at risk when it comes to gum disease and cavities may be able to get away with seeing a dentist every 12 months. However, those that run a higher risk of dental problems may need to schedule appointments with their dentist every three to four months or even more frequently. People in the high-risk group include:

• Pregnant women
• Smokers
• Diabetics
• People who have gum disease
• People who have a weak immune system when it comes to bacterial infections
• People who have plaque buildup
• People who have a tendency to get more cavities than others do

Your dental appointment schedule could change during your lifetime as illness or stress may require more dental appointments than usual.

Start the New Year off the right way and schedule your annual, bi-annual of quarterly appointment with your dentist today.

Sleep your way through the Appointment with Sedation Sleep Dentistry

If the word dentist brings back painful memories, schedule an appointment with a dentist for Sedation Sleep Dentistry.

Web MD explains that Sedation Sleep Dentistry can help people who experience a true fear of the dentist, and people who have sensitive teeth. If you have had traumatic dental experiences in the past, Sedation Sleep Dentistry could be the perfect solution. Other people who may benefit from Sedation Sleep Dentistry include those who have a hard time getting numb and others who have complex dental issues.

If the thought of a needle or shot makes your skin crawl or you have a limited amount of time when it comes to dental care, you may also benefit from Sedation Sleep Dentistry. Call your dentist today and schedule Sedation Sleep Dentistry if you cannot stand the taste, smell, or noise of the dentist office, or if you are embarrassed about your teeth and gums.

There are three types of Sedation Sleep Dentistry. Light Sedation, Moderate Sedation, and Heavy Sedation.

Nitrous Oxide, or laughing gas, is used for Light Sedation. Your dentist will place a small mask over your nose so that you can inhale the gas and oxygen mixture. Nitrous Oxide wears off quickly and is extremely safe. So much so that you can drive yourself home after your dental appointment. Your dentist can also control your level of Light Sedation with Nitrous Oxide.  

During Moderate Sedation, your dentist will prescribe you pills in order to relax you. Benzodiazepines are from the Valium family and can cause drowsiness. Some patients may even fall asleep while sitting in the dentist’s chair. Most patients have very little if any memory of the dental appointment. The Moderate Sedation pills work as a sort of mild anesthetic for pain control.

Deep Sedation is administered through an IV directly into your blood stream. This type of Sedation Sleep Dentistry can be used to sedate patients so that they are completely unaware of the procedure. Only a handful of California dentists are qualified to provide you with Deep Sedation allowing your dentist to control the amount and level of sedation required. After you come out of deep sedation, you will have no memory of the dental treatment. Deep Sedation is excellent for long dental appointments and to aid in pain control.

If you would like more information regarding Sedation Sleep Dentistry, schedule an appointment with your dentist who will be able to determine the best type of sedation for your needs.