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- Wow! This doesn't smell like a dental office at all!
- Video Glasses a Great Distraction for Nervous Dental Patients
- Breathe Right Strips for Patient Comfort
- Oral Sedation Dentistry Can Overcome Your Phobia
- The Dental Button--Comfort at the Press of a Button
- Why some patients are difficult to numb
- Making a Great Save After a Service Mistake
- Oraqix for Comfortable Hygiene Appointments
- Glad I am not a redhead
- Redheads Need More Local Anesthetic
Dental News
- Dr. Wagner heads Navy dental corps
- Dr. Wong heads Army dental corps
- ADA testifies at IOM hearings
- Dr. Tabak named NIH deputy director; Dr. Garcia acting director of NIDCR
- Humanitarian Award nominations due Sept. 15
- CDT 2011-2012 and Companion available for preorder
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- New ADA Dental Buying Guide included with September JADA
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All Dentists Should Make Sedation Available to Patients
The last time the orthopedist told me I needed surgery I asked to do it with local anesthetic only. It was out of the question, even though it was a minor procedure. Yet, every day in our dental offices we perform some fairly invasive and scary procedures with local anesthetic alone--procedures such as extractions, root canals, gum surgery, implant placement, and multiple restorations. No wonder patients say they "hate" the dentist! Some of our patients are tough, with high pain thresholds. I have one patient who refuses "novacaine" even for root canals and extractions. But others shudder at the thought of just a "cleaning." The fact is that a lot of our patients could benefit from sedation. Today there is no excuse not to provide sedation as an option when the Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation (DOCS) can train dentists to safely provide this outstanding service. I was trained by DOCS a number of years ago and I cannot tell you how many sedation cases I have done by now but it's a lot. So many patients jump at the opportunity to have their dental work done with a safe, common sleeping pill, whether the patient is a true dental phobic or they are just having a lot of work done. The patients can relax through their appointments--and so can the dentist! If you haven't been trained in oral conscious sedation or anxiolysis, call DOCS today and sign up. Your patients will thank you for it. Go to http://www.docseducation.com/docs/home.asp
- Josh Bernstein DDS's blog
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All Dentists Should Make Sedation Available to Patients
For those dentists who are not currently trained in sedation or who are not interested in getting trained, there are some outstanding professionals out there who will come into your office and provide sedation for your patients. They are dental anesthesiologists. When I have used them, they take care of everything--from billing to sedation, to monitoring. They even numb the patient! All the treating dentist has to do is walk in and do the dentistry. It's a real pleasure. Ask around and find a dental anesthesiologist in your area.
Josh Bernstein, DDS
Founder and President, Dental Comfort Academy
My Daughter
I'm not sure if this is directly on point to the above blog posting, but here goes....
My daughter is a complete dental phobic. Since before she was born, we have regularly gone to Dr. Pam Rotwein in Denver. She is one of the most gentle people I have ever known and is certainly a very gentle and sensitive dentist.
Yet, when my daughter learned that she had to have four cavities filled, she freaked out. She refused to go to Dr. Rotwein because Dr. Rotwein would not prescribe any sedatives for her prior to the appointment. She would be numbed, but Pam was not willing to prescribe anything to relax my daughter prior to the experience.
After much teeth nashing (and grinding... pun intended) we finally agreed to let my daughter go to Dr. Scott Greenhalgh an experienced dentist in Lakewood, just West of Denver. Scott is also extremely gentle and, best of all for my daughter, he prescribed some sedatives for her to take prior to her appointments.
Now my daughter won't go anywhere else for her dental work.
My daughter
Dan, So glad your daughter found her way to Dr. Greenhalgh's office. Sounds like she it's just the right place for her.
Josh Bernstein, DDS
Founder and President, Dental Comfort Academy