SEDATION DENTISTRY IN ARNOLD, MO
INTRAVENOUS SEDATION (“TWILIGHT SEDATION”)
Our team offers our patients the option of Intravenous Sedation for dental services. Also referred to as “Dental Intravenous Anesthesia,” or “Twilight Sedation”, this is what sets our dentistry practice apart from other dental practices; it is our niche, if you will.
Intravenous Sedation or “twilight sleep” can help patients feel comfortable and calm during dental procedures. Your dental treatment can be completed while you are under intravenous sedation. Intravenous (IV) sedation (also called “twilight sedation”) is designed to better enable your dentist to treat dental issues while you are very relaxed. It will enable you to tolerate, as well as not remember, those procedures that may be very uncomfortable for you.
IV sedation will essentially help alleviate the anxiety associated with visiting the dentist. You may not always be asleep, but you will be comfortable, calm and relaxed, as you drift in and out of “twilight sleep”.
If you choose the option of intravenous sedation, your IV sedation/anesthesia is administered and monitored by Dr. Mandefro. This removes the costly expense of having your treatment carried out in an operating room or same-day surgical facility.
HOW IS IV SEDATION ADMINISTERED?
A thin needle will be inserted into your arm or hand. The needle will be attached to an intravenous tube. It is through this tube that medication will be given. During the procedure, you can relax and feel comfortable.
At times, a patient’s vein may not be able to sustain a needle for the length of the procedure. Should that occur, the medication will be administered and the needle will be removed. Both scenarios will provide the same preferred level of conscious sedation.
Once again, some patients may be asleep, while others will slip in and out of sleep. Some patients with certain medical conditions and/or specific medication regimens may be only lightly sedated or may not sleep at all.
IV sedation is designed to use as little medication as possible to get the treatment completed. During IV sedation, the intravenous tube provides a constant “drip”. An antidote can be administered to reverse the effects of the medications at any time, should an issue arise.
IV sedation is very safe!
Sedation dentistry is also a great option for the elderly, the disabled, or simply the fearful!
SEDATION DENTISTRY FOR THE ELDERLY
Our oral health becomes more important than ever as we grow older. Gum disease can lead to bone and tooth loss, which affects nearly every part of our daily lives. We need our teeth and gums to support our overall health. Strong oral health allows us to enjoy food, support speech and good conversation, and facilitate digestion.
Dr. Mandefro is dedicated to treating all incoming elderly patients with care and commitment, recognizing that they have a right to comfort and health. Elderly patients as a group tend to avoid dental visits for a variety of reasons. These may include: more pressing medical concerns, anxiety about treatment, the hardship of transportation, or the reality of fixed incomes. Once their oral health has reached the point of extreme pain or damage, fear and embarrassment further keep these patients away from the dentist.
We understand that some elderly patients can feel embarrassed by or fearful of the state of their oral health. Sedation dentistry in Arnold, MO provides Dr. Mandefro with the opportunity to treat those conditions while the patient is relaxed. They may then wake up to improved oral health!
SEDATION DENTISTRY FOR THE DISABLED
It may be especially difficult for people with special needs to procure access to inclusive dental care. They must find a dentist who is skilled and compassionate. People with special needs may also need a practice that can provide services for which some dentists may not be qualified. At Meramec Family Dentistry, we provide the expertise, state-of-the-art equipment, and dedication to assisting special-needs patients to ensure great oral care for our patients.
Disabled patients may face additional challenges as they work to maintain their oral health. Their disability may make it difficult to brush or floss regularly. Disabled patients may also suffer a severe gag reflex, or dry mouth as a result of medication.
Dr. Mandefro meets these challenges by providing sedation dentistry. Dr. Mandefro is skilled in anesthesia for special-needs patients. He can ease the fear associated with uncontrolled oral hygiene with one visit.
SEDATION DENTISTRY FOR THE FEARFUL
Dental phobia is a real and overwhelming reality for thousands of people. There are a host of issues that can lead to dental phobia. Common sources include negative dental experiences, fear of needles or drills, and severe gag reflexes.
If you suffer from dental phobia, fear no more! At Meramec Family Dentistry, we are committed to understanding the root of your fears and how to most effectively overcome them. Our staff will treat you with delicacy and care, while IV sedation will allow you to experience dentistry in a whole new way. While you “sleep,” Dr. Mandefro will make sure you “wake up” with the results you desire.
