Forget the Dentist's Chair
Go To Sleep During That Root Canal
"Even the thought of going to the dentist makes me short of breath," the woman told me as she sat shaking in the reception area of my office. An otherwise healthy, intelligent and successful adult, this lady had not seen a dentist in over 10 years due to her fear and anxiety. Now the discomfort of her teeth was too much, and she knew she needed help. Our practice (the only one in Georgia to offer full service dental treatment to adults under general anesthesia) was her last hope. I was able to treat her multiple dental problems in one afternoon in a hospital setting where she was able to go home that evening. Procedures that would have taken weeks to complete were done in one day - without fear!
Fear of the dentist is a very common problem. In fact, some 30 to 40 million Americans are so fearful of the dentist that they completely avoid it. In my practice, I regularly see people with multiple problems, ranging from cavities to root canals, who haven't been to the dentist in years. Most dental fears can be traced to a bad dental experience in early childhood. Unfortunately, the embarrassment that dental phobics suffer further exacerbates the problem, making them even less likely to visit the dentist. The hospital-based dentistry program I provide offers the severely anxious patient an option that is often an answer to a prayer. But this one-day, hospital option can help many other patients.
Some patients have health problems that prevent them from sitting for long periods in a dental chair, such as heart conditions, painful back problems or severe gagging. There are many people who simply can't or won't take the time to take care of their teeth. They are either too busy with work, or they don't want to give up that much of their valuable time. Mothers with young children often put off important dental procedures because they cannot spend days away from their children.
I was determined to find a solution for these patients, and now, working in conjunction with Wellstar-Kennestone hospital, I provide cosmetic and restorative dentistry to adults under general anesthesia.
The hospital environment offers unique benefits:
- Patients who experience fear before and during a procedure are completely asleep, and don't see or fee; anything that might trigger anxiety.
- For those with health concerns, they are in the safest of all environments for their procedure. Physicians and lifesaving equipment are readily available if ever needed.
- Procedures that might lake several office visits to complete can be finished in one afternoon on an out-patient basis.
- A wider variety of drugs for pain, nausea, and swelling can be introduced in the hospital setting.
- The recuperation period is about the same as it would be for an office procedure, but the patient has the benefit of post-op care by registered nurses.
I work with an outstanding team of physician anesthesiologists, surgical nurses, and technicians to perform a variety of procedures including: fillings, crowns, porcelain veneers, bonding, root canals, periodontal treatment, and some oral surgery.
If you are one of those 40 million who has been putting off a visit to the dentist, don't delay so long that your health is compromised. With our hospital based dentistry option, there is no reason to avoid the dentist. In one day, without fear, you can take control of your dental health - and take a step toward better overall health.
