Santa Teresa Dental - Morgan Hill Dentist

Sedation

408.782.6568

info@stDental.com

16160 Monterey Rd
Suite A
Morgan Hill, CA

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Are you or do you know someone who is anxious or fearful
about dental treatment and even worries about it all the time?

When a person is afraid, the threshold for pain is much lower, and
he becomes hypersensitive to every sensation, prick, and noise.
Fear and anxiety trigger the release of certain chemicals like
adrenalin which put the "fight or flight" instincts on high alert. He
anticipates that something is going to hurt and so he tenses the
muscles, even if it is subconsciously. In this heightened state of
anxiety he experiences more pain during and even after treatment.
However, this response can be virtually eliminated with oral
sedation!

Oral sedation allows patients the confidence and peace of mind to
experience dental procedures in a whole new way. Hours seem to
pass like mere minutes: necessary dental treatment can be
performed comfortably because a person is relaxed, and Dr.
Andrew Huang can work more efficiently because he can focus
more on the work at hand and less on the patient’s comfort level.

What is sedation dentistry?

Studies show that 30% of the population avoids the dentist due to
fear. Sedation dentistry provides a safe and comfortable
experience for fearful patients to get the care they need and want.
Dr. Andrew Huang is licensed by the Dental Board of California to
administer Adult Oral Conscious Sedation. He can customize the
protocols to the patient’s anxiety level and medical history allowing
fearful patients an incredibly comfortable, relaxing and safe
experience.

Which patients are appropriate for Oral Conscious Sedation
(OCS)?

Patients with anxiety
Patients who suffer from acute or chronic jaw soreness
Patients who have a gag reflex
Patients who complain that they can’t get numb
Patients with physical limitations such as back or neck problems

What post-operative effects can patients expect?

Our protocols require the patient to be dismissed to a responsible
caregiver who will drive them home. Once home, the patient will
stay with their companion until all of the effects of the sedation
have worn off.

Would the procedure take longer?

With proper sedation (a small amount of sedation medication),
treatment can actually be completed in much less time.

What are some of the common side effects of these sedation
medications?

Retrograde amnesia - The patients have little or no recollection of
the treatment. It is not uncommon for Dr. Huang to get calls from
patients who are amazed that they don’t remember the
appointment. The front desk then says, “Have you looked in the
mirror yet?” The patient excitedly realizes that they have a new
smile and they have no memory of the treatment being performed
at all! They are so happy because memories of dentistry are not
something they savor.

Less post-operative soreness - Patients will no longer routinely
require postoperative pain medications. They often recover
sooner, and are less sore than they would have been without
OCS. This is the anecdotal experience of hundreds of thousands
of cases.

Dry mouth - During a sedation appointment the sedative will
decrease salivary flow and allow the dentist to perform treatment
in a dryer environment.

Spare Hiccups - A small percentage of patients (3%) will
experience a period of hiccups lasting no longer than ten minutes.
They are self-limiting.

How safe is OCS?

Historically, adult OCS has been one of the safest modalities in
dentistry. One of the reasons for that is Dr. Huang monitor
patients’ vital signs using a pulse oximeter/blood pressure
monitor. This monitor is easy to use yet sophisticated enough to
measure blood pressure every five minutes and continuously
measure pulse rate and blood oxygen before, during and after a
sedation procedure.

Is it hard to work on me when I am sedated?

Once you are sedated, you will be totally relaxed and comfortable,
allowing Dr. Huang to do the best dentistry possible. You will be
the easiest patients to treat. Dr. Huang can work on you more
efficiently, which means a shorter appointment time for you.

What about drug interactions?

Sedation medications are chosen based on an individual’s
medical history and any possible drug interactions that may occur.
Dr. Huang uses a sophisticated drug interaction software that
automatically checks all the medications the patient is taking, even
herbals and nutritional supplements, against a predetermined list
of suggested sedative drugs. In addition, Dr. Huang will normally
contact your primary care physician prior to doing sedation and
discuss any possible ramification.

Will insurance pay for OCS?

Insurance companies do not pay for sedation. However, for many
fearful patients, this is the only alternative than losing all their teeth.

For further questions, please contact us!