What is “sleep dentistry”?
Wednesday, November 11th, 2009I am writing on behalf of my mother. She has not been to a dentist for many, many years, but at her most recent checkup, her regular doctor told her that she appears to have some kind of infection in her gums, and that several of her teeth look to be severely decayed. From my own experience, I know that the kind of work she needs done will not be quick or easy. She has avoided the dentist these many years because she had a bad experience and is quite frankly terrified of going to the dentist.
How can I help her? I’ve read something about “sleep dentistry”, but is that dangerous for an elderly person? Her general health is good, but she is nearly 80 years old. How is she sedated, and what are the possible side effects?
She really needs to have her teeth taken care of. Her doctor told her she might lose them all if she does not address this issue right away. Please help me find a way to help her overcome her fear.
Phyllis in Delaware
Dear Phyllis,
Thank you for taking the time to try and help your Mom. Luckily, a lot of options exist that can make her dental care experience much, much less stressful than what she has experienced in the past.
“Sleep dentistry” is a layman’s term for sedation dentistry, which is the use of oral sedatives, nitrous oxide (NO gas) and sometimes anesthesia in the administration of dental care. The level of sedation is determined by the extent of the patent’s anxiety and the potential length of the procedure. Here in our office, we use an oral sedative (a pill) for our anxious patients.
With all sedation patients, a careful case history is taken to verify that they are able to tolerate the medication, and that none of their existing medications contraindicate the use of the oral sedative. During the procedure, our patients are monitored by a trained staff member at all times, using a blood pressure machine and a pulse oximeter monitor.
Side effects include drowsiness, and occasionally nausea, which is usually brought on by not being able to eat before the appointment. Nearly all patients who experience nausea feel rapidly better after eating or drinking something post-treatment.
In all likelihood, your mother will have little or no memory of her treatments, and will experience no discomfort whatsoever. A successful visit or two will also go a long way towards easing her anxiety for subsequent visits!
I hope this helps you help your Mom. Her quality of life will really improve if she can restore her oral health.