Is Sedation Dentistry Safe? What to Know and How to Prepare for Your Procedure
September 30, 2020
Many of our patients at our DeSoto location come to us with questions surrounding the risks and benefits of sedation dentistry. While there are many reasons sedation may be offered for dentistry practices, all revolve around the comfort and well-being of you – the patient. As such, we are committed to keeping our patients informed of all of their options for any upcoming appointment, as well as helping you make the right decision for yourself by educating you on every aspect. To do this, we offer a variety of sedation options which we explain in detail prior to your appointment.
Exploring Sedation Options with Your Family Dentist
Whether you’re considering sedation for an upcoming major dental procedure, or you’re interested in how it can help with anxiety over a dentistry visit, we’re here to help. As your family dentist, our focus is on providing you with the most caring and comprehensive oral care practices, and that includes ensuring your level of comfort while in our care and also during recovery processes. Sedation often plays a major role in this part.
Before making any decisions surrounding sedation, it’s important to make sure you have all of the information in order to make the right choice for your needs. For starters, there are a few different options in terms of sedation that offer varying levels of comfort and relaxation. These options include prescription medications taken in advance, nitrous oxide treatments, IV sedation, and even a combination of methods is sometimes in order.
The Pros and Cons of Sedation Dentistry
Sedation dentistry is often thought of for major procedures such as tooth extraction, root canals, and other, more intense oral services, but the truth is, it is also often used to help patients who suffer from anxiety prior to any dental appointment. One of the best ways to determine which option is right for you, is by taking a look at the pros and cons of each option.
- Prescription Medication. In some cases, Dr. Gupta can provide a prescription sedative to be taken orally prior to arriving for your appointment. The positives with this allow you to be fully relaxed from the moment you arrive. On the flip side, it will require you to have someone with you to drive you to your appointment as it will impair your ability to drive.
- Nitrous Oxide. Perhaps the most commonly known sedative, nitrous oxide (or laughing gas) is frequently used for its effectiveness (can be administered as long as needed) and for its ability to wear off quickly. On the downside, the calming effects are limited to the time of administration only.
- IV Administration. This version is a sedative given intravenously and is popular for its ability to be adjusted as needed. This method, however, will require patients to have someone drive them home afterwards as the effects do not wear off as soon as others.
Call Us at Our DeSoto Location to See If Sedation Is Right for You
If you’re wondering if sedation dentistry could help get you through your upcoming procedure or help with any anxiety you may be experiencing surrounding dental visits, we’re happy to help walk you through the process. Give us a call or visit our DeSoto location today to find out more!
Academy of General Dentistry Fellowship: Our Commitment to Continuing Education
September 22, 2020
On behalf of our team of professionals at Lancaster Smiles, we would like to congratulate Dr. Gupta on earning her Fellowship accreditation with the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD)! Her latest achievement speaks volumes to the degree of dedication our practice puts forth to continuing our knowledge of dental practices in order to provide our patients with the absolute best possible care available today. Here’s a little bit about what this certification entails and what it means to our patients and practice going forward:
What Is an AGD Fellowship?
Since 1952, the Academy of General Dentistry has been helping dental professionals across the country to continue their education efforts in order to stay abreast of the latest advancements and technology in the field. Dedicated to the advocacy for continual learning, the foundation offers a fellowship program to recognize those professionals who meet their exceptional criteria for professional training and advancement practices. In fact, their criteria are so exceptional, only 6% of general dentistry professionals in the United States and Canada combined, have achieved the coveted fellowship award.
How Is This Achievement Earned?
We are extremely proud to announce that Dr. Gupta’s dedication to continuing education has earned her this fellowship, and a place among the top 6% of dental professionals in the nation. This has been an achievement that demanded years of ongoing educational courses as well as a commitment to meeting the fellowship requirements. In order to earn this exceptional accreditation, your family dentist has undergone vigorous training and AGD testing that has included:
- Completion of 500 hours of course specified continued education (CE) programs and studies. This is a commitment of 500 educational hours beyond her licensing and degree requirements in order to stay current on the most advanced dental breakthroughs of the day.
- Maintain all proper licensing as well as maintain an AGD membership in excellent standing for a minimum of three years prior to the fellowship award.
- Successful completion (passing grade) of the 3-hour long fellowship examination following the 500 hours of CE. This examination is an extensive compilation of the latest dental professional intel of the day and requires a solid grasp of all CE obtained during that time.
What an AGD Fellowship Means to Our Lancaster Smiles Friends and Families
Dr. Gupta and staff are all deeply committed to offering the most comprehensive and caring dental services in the area. It is this commitment that has led to her continued dedication to CE courses and achieving the AGD fellowship as a way to provide our patients with the best, most knowledgeable care. We’d like to extend our congratulations again to Dr. Gupta for this impressive achievement as we let our family of patients know how committed we are to stay at the top of our field – for you, our patients! This latest achievement is just one of the many ways your local family dentist is ensuring you receive top-notch care at every appointment, and now she has the fellowship award to show for this dedication!
Searching for the Best DeSoto Dentist? Give Us a Call Today!
September 16, 2020
When it comes to the oral health of your family members, it’s important to know you have chosen the best DeSoto dentist to manage their care. For years, Dr. Gupta and staff have been welcoming patients of all ages for the most trusted, caring, and gentle dental procedures around. We take great pride in offering our patients cutting edge technology, highly efficient procedural protocols, and a warm, compassionate approach with each of our clients.
Our Dentist Services in Lancaster
At Lancaster Family Smiles, we understand that in order to provide our patients with the best possible care, we must stay current with all of the latest technological and medical advancements in the field. That’s why we continually strive to offer state of the art procedures and equipment that are specifically designed to both simplify your oral procedures as well as being minimally invasive and aiding with recovery times for more in-depth practices. When it comes to dentist services in Lancaster, you can rest assured, our staff is among the most qualified and trusted group of professionals around!
Our DeSoto Dentist Understands Efficiency
In addition to simplifying complex procedures and improving overall healing and recovery measures, our advanced services and equipment also allow for a highly efficient practice. We understand that your time is quite valuable – that’s why we focus on giving you the best possible care without any unnecessary waiting around. Our goal is to give you a warm welcome as well as a comprehensive and focused professional service, using the latest in cutting edge technology in order to have you back on your way in no time – every time you see us.
Efficiency is more than simply getting you in and out of your appointment in a timely fashion, however. As we said, our staff understands that your time is valuable, so we make sure our availability meets whatever your needs may be. We know missing work or school isn’t always a feasible option. That’s why we offer the same caliber of services to all of our patients, 7 days a week. Our hours of availability ensure we are here for you, whenever you can fit us into your schedule – not the other way around.
Your Most Trusted and Compassionate Choice for Dentist Services
Our highly trained staff members have been focused on providing the best possible dental care in the Lancaster and DeSoto areas for years. We are passionate about what we do and work hard to be the most trusted dental professionals around. Your family’s oral health and comfort is our number one priority, and we strive to be the best in the business because that’s what we want for our own families. It’s because of this that we are deeply proud of our consistent 5-star ratings and glowing reviews by our patients, and we look forward to continuing to offer the highest level of care possible for many years to come!
Tooth or Gum Pain? When to Call for Emergency Dentistry Work
When a dental emergency arises, it is usually quite uncomfortable and immediate attention is recommended in order to not only alleviate the pain, but also avoid any progression to more serious issues. But just what constitutes a dental emergency? How do you know when you should seek emergency dentistry help versus waiting for a regular appointment?
Determining When to Call for Emergency Dentistry Work
Oftentimes, when a patient is experiencing tooth or gum pain, they may find themselves questioning whether or not their situation constitutes a dental emergency or if it is something they can wait out or even treat at home. The fact is, however, if you are experiencing any type of significant tooth or gum pain, that is your body’s way of saying you need treatment. The longer this treatment is put off, the greater the chance of your situation worsening.
Seeking out an emergency dentist Lancaster at the first symptoms of pain or discomfort can be a critical part of correcting the issue before things progress to more serious issues. Leaving something like an abscessed tooth unattended can lead to more severe infections and damage to surrounding tissues and bone structures, for example. If you’re experiencing tooth pain or mouth pain in any manor, don’t wait to seek dental assistance.
Most Common Emergency Dentistry Procedures
While unbearable toothaches can be a very common reason to seek emergency dental work, it’s not the only scenario that qualifies as an emergency. In general, any time you have mouth pain, abnormal bleeding or swelling, or oral damage caused by impact, fall, or other physical blow, it’s a good idea to call your family dentist.
Some of the most common reasons for emergency dentistry work include:
- Severe toothache
- Swollen or painful gums
- Broken or chipped tooth
- Tooth loss from physical altercation or accident
It’s important to note, however, that although these are some of the most common reasons for emergency dentistry, this is not an all-inclusive list. If you are experiencing any form of unmanageable oral pain, it’s important to seek the attention of your dental professional immediately. Delaying professional treatment could only further complicate your situation.
What to Do When You Need Immediate Dental Attention
Whether you’re experiencing a more obvious dental emergency such as a knocked-out tooth, or a milder emergency like an unmanageable toothache, the best plan of action is the same: seek the help of your dental professional. In some instances, this could mean scheduling an appointment for the following day (in the instance of a toothache that’s bearable with over the counter pain medicines). In other cases, the situation cannot wait until the next available appointment and must be dealt with immediately (such as the loss of an adult tooth). Either way, your actions will play a large part in your recovery process, and it is always recommended to contact your dental professional as quickly as possible in order to determine the best way to handle your emergency.