oral conscious sedation Archives | Page 2 of 2

Burning Mouth Syndrome or Zirconia Allergy

Posted on December 31, 2021 by writeradmin.

I have a hard time at every single dental visit. This last one was no different. I had two zirconia crowns put on. Since then, I have had horrible try mouth and my mouth, tongue, and throat have been burning. I’ve been to the doctor and two ENTs. All have said there is no acid reflux and were baffled. The last one mentioned the possibility of burning mouth syndrome. I’ve asked about the possibility of an allergy to the zirconia but they all insist that no one is allergic to zirconia. I don’t know what to do?

Grace

Dear Grace,

I get annoyed when dentists or other practitioners say there is “NO” chance you can be allergic to something. The human body is remarkably unique for each individual and saying that no one can be allergic is short sighted at best.

That being said, your symptoms are consistent with burning mouth syndrome. While we don’t know the actual cause, there is a consistent connection with patients who report these symptoms. Each of them has a pattern of both dental anxiety and traumatic experiences at the dentist.

You will want to do something to help with the dry mouth, which in turn may help with the other symptoms you are experiencing:

Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco use
Drink water regularly
If you need mouthwash, make certain it does not contain alcohol. There are some mouthwashes specifically designed for dry mouth
Avoid over-the-counter antihistamines and decongestants, which will worsen your symptoms.

How to Have Positive Dental Experiences

When a patient is dealing with dental trauma, I always recommend they see a sedation dentist for their treatment. Specifically look for someone who offers oral conscious sedation. Nitrous oxide is fine for mild anxiety, but your experiences hint to me you will need something stronger. These dentists are skilled at working with fearful patients and have compassion for what you’ve dealt with.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. John Weaver.

High Resistance to Novocain

Posted on October 30, 2021 by writeradmin.

I need some advice. Dental appointments are a complete nightmare for me. My dentist has never been able to get me numb before. It didn’t matter how many shots he gave me, I would still be in agony. As a result, as you can imagine, I need a lot of work done. Is there any way to help me with this? I’d really love to get control of my dental health. I’m desperate because my mouth is a mess and it is getting embarrassing.

Marie

Dear Marie,

I want to first give you some peace in knowing that there is a solution to what you are going through. I am sorry you have had to endure so many painful appointments. There are quiet a few dentists who do not yet know there is a very real connection between dental anxiety and the ineffecutalness of numbing medication. By that I mean, the higher your dental anxiety, the less likely the numbing medication is to work. That sounds like a terrible inverse, doesn’t it? Here is the good news. There is a fix.

What you need is a dentist who offers dental sedation. This will allow you to have a pain-free/anxiety-free dental appointment. How it works is the medication relaxes you, which in turn keeps your body from metabolizing the numbing medication too quickly. Given the number of painful appointments you have, I am going recommend you find a dentist who offers oral conscious sedation.

This is a stronger medication. It is administered by a pill. However, it is so powerful that you will need to have someone drive you to and fron your appoinment as well as stay with you for a few hours after your appointment. There is an additional benefit to you as well. Using oral conscious sedation will allow you to get more work done at each appointment, giving you the ability to get your oral health care under control faster.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. John Weaver.

Anesthesia for Wisdom Tooth Extraction?

Posted on June 23, 2021 by writeradmin.

My 19-year-old son needs one of his wisdom teeth extracted. Apparently, it is under the bone and my dentist asked if we wanted general anesthesia. That surprised me and I wasn’t sure how to answer. I worry about general anesthesia and the complications that can come with that, but I don’t want him in any unnecessary pain either. What is the right course of action? My dentist just says it is up to me.

Franny

Dear Franny,

Based on what you have said, I don’t think your son will need anything more than oral conscious sedation. If your dentist is saying it is up to you, then there does not seem to be any complicating factors to worry about. He is in the ideal age for wisdom tooth removal. At his age, the bone is quite pliable. As we age, cementum accumulates on the roots of the teeth. However, he is far too young for that to be a concern.

I will tell you what does concern me — your dentist. I am worried that he is not comfortable with this extraction and that may be why he is hinting for a stronger means of dealing with this extraction. I don’t think it is fair of him to not give you a real recommendation. That is part of his job as he is the one with the training.

A word about oral conscious sedation. This is still a strong medication. He will likely sleep through the procedure, but when he awakens he will be groggy and not quite lucid. Plan on spending the day with him just to be there in case he needs the restroom. He won’t be too steady on his feet. My advice is to set him up on the couch with his favorite streaming service.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. John Weaver.

Novocaine Doesn’t Work for Me

Posted on April 28, 2021 by writeradmin.

Can you help me? I have never had a dental procedure where Novocain worked for me. This is true no matter how many shots they give me. Because of this, all my dental procedures have been excruciating. It is to the point where I only go if there is no other choice because of a tooth infection. My mouth is a wreck as a result. Is there any hope I can have a healthy smile?

Mandy

Dear Mandy,

I am so sorry for all you have been through. The fact that you are trying to get to the dentist again says a lot about your courage. I also feel confident I can help you.

There is a phenomenon that many dentists are still unaware of that pertains to this very issue. We have found there is a connection between dental anxiety and Novocaine resistance. In other words, the more anxious a patient is going in to a procedure, the higher the likelihood the Novocaine will not work for them. We’re not certain as to why. Some speculate it is a metabolism issue, meaning that your metabolism jumps up during anxiety which in turn burns off the numbing medication too quickly for it to be effective.

The solution is to go to a dentist who is willing to use a relaxant, such as you’d find with dental sedation. I suggest you do an internet search for a sedation dentist. In your case, I would specifically look for one who offers oral conscious sedation.

This is so strong that most patients sleep through their procedures. The only real downside is you will need someone to drive you to and from your appointment as well as stay with you at home for a few hours until you are lucid and steady on your feet again.

In addition to giving you a completely relaxed experience at the dentist, it will also allow you to catch up on your needed dental work much faster because you are able to have more procedures done at each appointment. Before you know it, you will have a healthy, beautiful smile once more with no more dental emergencies.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. Weaver.

Novocain Didn’t Work for My Daughter

Posted on January 23, 2021 by writeradmin.

I have an eleven-year-old daughter who developed a tooth infection. The dentist gave her Novocain but it didn’t work. She was in agony. I eventually had to stop the procedure because I couldn’t stand the pain she was in. I was also a little distressed that the dentist didn’t even seem to care about what she was enduring. I am going to switch pediatric dentists, for obvious reasons, however I still have to deal with my daughter’s infection. Do you know why the Novocain didn’t work? If so, is there a way to get her numb?

Miranda

Dear Miranda,

I am so sorry both you and your daughter had to experience that. I do believe I know what happened with the Novocain and know what will help. I can tell you are a kind and caring mother, so you will know that the infection will have to be dealt with before it has a chance to spread. These type of issues are considered a dental emergency. The first thing I would do is ask for an antibiotic to help hold off the infection briefly while you find the dentist you need to handle this. It is a short, temporary solution. Tooth infections are not treated by antibiotics, they are just held at bay for a period. The only way to get rid of the infection is for a dentist to physically remove the infected tissue.

Many dentists are not yet aware that there is a connection between dental anxiety and numbing medication. While we don’t understand why, we do know that higher a person’s anxiety the less effective the numbing medication is. The solution is to help bring down her anxiety before the procedure. The best way to do that is to see a pediatric dentist who offers dental sedation options.

There are different levels of sedation. Nitrous oxide is the lowest. However, given her recent experience, I think you need to find a dentist who offers oral conscious sedation. This is much stronger and is often called sleep dentistry. She will be quite loopy so you’ll want to keep an eye on her for a few hours after the procedure. It is perfectly safe and she will wake up with her procedure done.

Then, for the next few procedures she can use the nitrous oxide. This helps relax her and she will very likely fall asleep, but she will not be loopy when the procedure is over. With this sedation they will switch the gas back to oxygen and she’ll be back to normal in a few moments.

Hopefully, a few good procedures will enable her fear and anxiety to become controlled by her instead of medication.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. John Weaver.

Dentist Cut My Tongue

Posted on November 7, 2020 by writeradmin.

I have never loved going to the dentist but I’ve never had one of those horror story experiences until this week. I was having a cavity filled and decided to get some nitrous oxide which they told me would relax me. It didn’t really do much for me so I don’t think it is worth the extra money. However, I am writing because during the procedure the dentist slipped and cut the underside of my tongue. Not only did I feel it, but I heard both of them gasp when it happened. When I approached him about it, he said patients bite themselves all the time during procedures. I sort of feel like he owes me an apology and maybe a partial refund, but he’s not even being honest about what happened. What do you recommend I do?

Meredith

Dear Meredith,

While you can ask for both, I wouldn’t hold my breath if I were you. It sounds like he has already moved into a defensive posture. I don’t think you are going to get very far with him. In some cases, you can get your money back with a lawsuit, but in this case, I don’t believe you will get very far. That type of case is difficult to determine objectively without significant evidence. The best you will probably be able to do is write a bad review and get a new dentist.

When you do get a new dentist, I would like you to get a sedation dentist. There are a few little hints in what you wrote that make me think that will be a huge benefit for you.

You have never loved going to the dentist. Sometimes this is code for “dentists make me nervous, which is more common than you would think.
Anxiety burns off numbing medication. When you get anxious in the dental chair, especially after a bad experience, your body kicks into overdrive. This burns off the numbing medicine making it difficult to get and keep you numb during your procedures.
The nitrous oxide seemed to be ineffective on you. This is usually a sign of someone who needs a stronger sedation option. Your best option is to find someone who offers oral conscious sedation.

This option will completely relax you, provide an anxiety-free and pain-free dental appointment. I think you’ll be much happier at the dentist the next time you need a procedure.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. John Weaver.

Burning Mouth Syndrome

Posted on September 16, 2020 by writeradmin.

Since having a zirconia crown placed on a back tooth, I’ve had a burning aching throat and a dry tongue. We’ve eliminated allergies to things like the zirconia and any mouthwash or toothpaste I’m using. This has been another problem after dental work in a series of dental disasters. From a previous procedure, I had lingual nerve damage that took over a year to get better. One thing that may be a factor is the excessive amount of water the dentist needed to use during the procedure cause me to choke and need to stop several times. I can see how this would cause my throat to hurt for a few days, but not for as longa s it has been hurting. I’ve been to a couple of doctors. One can’t figure out anything. Another said it is burning mouth syndrome, but doesn’t know what can help it. Have you heard of this?

Brooke

Dear Brooke,

I agree with the assessment the one doctor gave you about burning mouth syndrome. Though it has been said there is no understood cause for burning mouth syndrome, there has been a pretty good link between dental trauma and burning mouth syndrome.

You’ve mentioned several issues that seem to be directly related to the connections seen. Your choking during the procedure, the lingual nerve damage that happened at your last appointment. Given the fact that you still need more work and the experiences you’ve had, it is no surprise your body is reacting.

The simplest solution for this issue is to see a sedation dentist. If you get a strong enough level of sedation, such as oral conscious sedation (OCS), it will relax you completely. You’ll be able to have an anxiety-free/pain-free appointment. Those who have suffered with dental anxiety and used OCS have found it completely changes their life. If you want to, you can even sleep through your apartment.

I think if you have a positive dental experience, it will go a long way toward helping with the symptoms you are experiencing.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. John Weaver.

Why Can’t the Dentist Get Me Numb?

Posted on December 24, 2019 by writeradmin.

I had to have a root canal treatment on a tooth that was injured years ago and has now picked up an infection. My dentist could not get me numb, even after six shots for one tooth. He’s at a loss. He didn’t charge me for the visit and has prescribed me some strong pain killers. I can’t live like this much longer. My dentist is doing his own research to try to figure out what to do, but I thought I’d write to you to see if you have experienced this with any of your patients. If so, did you find a solution?

Andrew

Dear Andrew,

I can help you. I have encountered this a few times. My suspicion is you struggle with some level of dental anxiety. Actually, based on how hard it was for your dentist to get you numb, it’s probably strong anxiety. It may not be in going to the dentist on its own, but in the procedure you needed.

What many dentists don’t realize is how that anxiety affects your metabolism. When you are anxious, your body’s metabolism kicks up a notch. This burns off the numbing medication. Therefore, what you need is something to keep your anxiety level down.

I’m going to suggest you use dental sedation for this procedure. Most dentists who offer sedation have two levels available. The first is nitrous oxide. This is for patients who are mildly anxious. It’s commonly called laughing gas and will relax you. It has the additional benefit of allowing you to get on with your day as normal after the procedure is done.

The second level is for those with more substantial anxiety. It’s known as oral conscious sedation (OCS). This is administered by a pill. However, it is so strong, you will need someone to drive you to and from your appointment, as well as remain with you afterward until you are lucid again. Most patients who take OCS sleep through their procedure, which is why some call it sleep dentistry.

If your dentist doesn’t offer either of these services, you can see a different practitioner for your root canal treatment. You don’t have to switch dentists entirely if you are happy with your current one. You can just go for this one thing and then return to your dentist.

Generally, after a root canal treatment, you will need to have a dental crown placed to protect the tooth.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. John Weaver.

Dentist or Oral Surgeon for Extractions?

Posted on September 13, 2019 by writeradmin.

I have a terrible fear of the dentist and pretty much only go when I need a tooth pulled. I’m 50 years old and missing a large number of teeth at this point and feel like I need to get dentures. Do I go to a dentist or an oral surgeon for that?

Ben

Dear Ben,

I’m sorry for the struggles you’ve encountered. Many times, when someone is dealing with dental anxiety it is a result of trauma in the past with a dentist, often in childhood. This causes many patients to only go in for treatment when they have a dental emergency, such as you’ve done.

I would go to the dentist who is going to do the dentures for the extractions. If you go to two practitioners, one for the extractions and one for the dentures, there will need to be perfect communication. Denture preparation is something most dentists know how to do.

Because of your dental anxiety, I’m going to suggest you use a dentist who has sleep dentistry available. This will allow you to get your dental work done without any anxiety. In fact, if you want, you can nap through the entire procedure.

A Danger with Dentures

Before you settle on dentures, I want you aware of what you’re getting into. Even the best fitting dentures will reduce chewing capacity by 50%. The dentures for your top arch are held in by suction and the bottom ones just sit on the ridge of your jawbone. This is where the biggest problem arises.

When your teeth are removed, your body recognizes you no longer have any teeth roots. In an effort to be efficient, it resorbs the minerals in your jawbone to use elsewhere in your body. This causes your jawbone to slowly shrink. Eventually, you won’t have enough jawbone left to support your denture. This is known as facial collapse. Because of your young age, this is especially important for you.

The Solution to Facial Collapse

The best way to prevent facial collapse is to have dental implants placed in your jaw. These will mimic the roots of your teeth and let your body know you still need the bone to retain teeth. With about four to six implants you can anchor dentures to them. These are known as implant overdentures and will completely eliminate the problems caused by dentures.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. John Weaver.

Getting a Lot of Work Done at Once with a Dentist

Posted on January 23, 2019 by writeradmin.

My mouth is in bad shape. I need to get a lot of work done. I need about 4 root canal treatments, two crowns, and a filling. However, I’d also like to improve the appearance of my teeth by whitening them. How much of this can be done in one appointment?

Ben

Dear Ben,

Sedation dentistry is sometimes called sleep dentistry…for a reason.

Each dentist has a different threshold for how much they’ll do in one appointment. However, you will find that sedation dentists are more likely to agree to longer appointments. That is because it is easier for the patient to have extensive work done while under sedation.

If you use a strong sedation, such as oral conscious sedation, it allows you to sleep through the appointment. You’ll be completely relaxed while the dentist goes about the business of doing your procedures.

The one thing you will want to split up is the teeth whitening. So, this is the tricky bit. It’s a matter of convenience over cost. While natural teeth whiten, dental work does not. That boils down to whatever color your dental crowns are when they’re made is permanent.

That means you can whiten your teeth before getting your crowns so they can be made to match the new color. Or, you can get the work done, then whiten your teeth. However, that means you’ll have to replace the crowns if you want them to match. Of course, that’s only necessary with crowns which are visible when you smile.

My suggestion, in that case, is to have your root canals and any fillings done. Then, whiten your teeth. After the tooth bleaching is completed, your dental crowns can be made to match the new color.

Your Best Bet is In-Office Whitening

Because you are in a hurry to get all this work done, I’m going to recommend you use an in-office teeth whitening, such as Zoom Whitening.

With Zoom Whitening, your teeth will get as white as possible in just one appointment. You will want to wait about a week afterward to allow the color to settle a bit, but that is still faster than take home whitening which can take several weeks to get to the level of brightness you want.

Best of luck to you.
This blog is brought to you by Lexington Dentist Dr. John Weaver.