For years, JoAnn Trask was no different than other single moms: she put her children first, which simply didn’t leave much in the way of financial resources when it was her turn in the dentist’s chair. “I could only afford to do the basic things on my teeth,” she explains.

In addition, after enduring a good deal of unpleasant dental work when she was younger, apprehension and time constraints kept her from making her teeth a priority. When she turned 50, however, JoAnn decided it was time for a change. “I wanted to do something for myself. It was my fiftieth birthday present to me,” she shares.

One factor that made such a gift possible, she notes, was the discovery of sedation dentistry. “I heard about it on the radio and I was immediately interested,” she recalls. “I called the office doing the advertising, but the person was not very nice on the phone, so I kept looking around. Then I received a packet of coupons in the mail, and Dr. Patel’s coupon was included.”

The advantages of sedation

A board-certified general dentist with advanced training in implant dentistry and conscious sedation, Rajiv Patel, BDS, MDS, believes in making his patients as comfortable as possible before, during, and after their dental procedures, which makes sedation dentistry an obvious, and very popular, treatment choice.

“Many patients feel very anxious and afraid while they are in the dentist chair,” he informs. “Some even put off coming to the dentist because of that fear, and because of unpleasant experiences in the past.”

Unfortunately, the doctor stresses, this avoidance puts both their oral and general health at risk.

“Sedation dentistry is really helping these patients,” he says. “Unlike general anesthesia, where people are completely unconscious and unable to respond, patients under conscious sedation are able to respond to commands, breathe on their own, and have their reflexes intact.

“Most patients are so relaxed that they claim they felt as though they slept through the entire procedure. So, afterward, they have very little or no memory of what was done, which helps many fearful patients.”

According to Dr. Patel, there are three primary ways that conscious sedation is administered in the dental office. The first is known as inhalation conscious sedation , which makes use of a nitrous oxide and oxygen combination commonly known as laughing gas . While this was the most frequent method used at one time, recent advances have made other options more popular.

“The second method is known as enteral conscious sedation or oral sedation ,” the doctor notes. “In this procedure, we give patients a pill to take in our office and within a few minutes, though body functions remain normal, patients often fall asleep and the work is done without any recollection.”

The most effective method, in Dr. Patel’s opinion, is that of IV sedation , administered directly into the bloodstream. “This is also known as deep conscious sedation , and usually it is done by oral surgeons or dentists like me who are specially trained and have earned special certification.

“The greatest advantage with IV sedation,” he continues, “is that we have a lot of flexibility in controlling the amount and degree of sedation, and the amnesia associated with this technique is more profound than in oral sedation.”

In JoAnn’s case, Dr. Patel says that IV sedation played a pivotal role in the success of her dental restoration. “When she found out about the sedation dentistry and what we could do for her, she was very excited. We formulated a treatment plan that was appropriate for her desires and, because of the sedation, we could do a full-mouth restoration, reconstructing her bite and putting her jaw in proper position to function better.

“That would not have been possible just by doing routine dentistry,” the doctor stresses.

“Not just a number”

As soon as her experience with Deland Implant Dentistry began, JoAnn says she noticed a difference from other dental practices. “I liked the idea that it was a small office. You aren’t just a number when you go there,” she says. “And Dr. Patel took his time with me, one-on-one. If I had any questions, he was right there to answer them. That really impressed me.”

Her positive impressions only grew as her dental work progressed. “First, we went over a couple of different treatment plans to see what I could afford, and then we worked it out together to come up with a plan that was okay with us both.”

In addition to providing a relaxed experience, JoAnn adds, the sedation dentistry turned out to be a remarkably time-efficient method as well. “I needed a lot of dental work done, but I didn’t want to take time away from my job,” she explains. “Dr. Patel worked with my schedule and, since I had Fridays off at the time, he scheduled every one of my appointments for Friday morning so that I could have my dentistry done, have the weekend to recuperate if I needed it, and I didn’t need to miss any work.”

These days, JoAnn is absolutely thrilled with the birthday gift she gave herself. “I love my smile,” she says. “I was recently up in Buffalo, NY visiting my mother, who was in the hospital. Her roommate kept looking at me and finally said, Ma’am, I just want to tell you that you have one of the nicest smiles. You just have beautiful teeth .

“It really does make you feel good,” JoAnn shares.

Very pleased to have Dr. Patel as her dentist, JoAnn has also become a big believer in the benefits of IV sedation. “Sedation dentistry is the best way to go, especially if you fear dentists like I did. And if you need a lot of dental work and you want it done in a short period of time, it’s well worth it.”

FHCN – Brenda Klettke