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Visit the Dentist Before Making an Appointment
Finding dentists these days is really easy using the Internet. There are dozens of both national and local directories of dentists and dental health care specialists online. In addition, your dental health care provider may provide a list of dentists in your area that will treat patients covered by your policy.
With a sizable group of potential dental health care professionals to choose from, the difficult question to ask these days isn't how to find a dentist, but rather how to find a good dentist. Unfortunately, there is no reliable common peer review or customer review resource available, so your best bet is probably still word-of-mouth recommendations.
"That's Mighty Neighborly Of Ya"
Therefore, when you move to a new area, ask your neighbors if they have a found a good dentist, or, failing that, visit some dentists conveniently located to where you live, meet them in person, and check out their offices. If you see scythes, pliers, tables with straps, and hear loud screams, you should probably move on until you find an environment that is more to your liking.
Even with a good recommendation, there is no substitute for checking out a dental practice personally before committing. If a dentist won't even talk to you, then you should forget him and find someone friendlier.
Friday, August 31, 2007
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Manage Dental Fears With Oral Sedation
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It has been estimated that 50% of Americans avoid going to the dentist at all costs. Many people will wait until they are in severe pain to make that dreaded phone call that will put them out of their misery. With routine dental checkups, a lot of the pain and suffering of an infected tooth could be avoided. Unfortunately most people wait until it is too late to prevent major dental problems.
Oral conscious sedation is a way to manage pain for the extremely fearful dental patient. In oral sedation, a pill is taken prior to the dental appointment to help relax the patient and control anxiety. The patient will need to be driven to his dental appointment by a companion. During the procedure, the patient will be awake and will be able to follow commands, but he will have a depressed level of consciousness, and may feel out of it and groggy. The pill that is given has an amnesia effect. After the procedure is over, it is very likely that the patient will have little or no memory of the visit from the time the pill took effect.
The Advantages Of Oral Sedation
There are many benefits to oral sedation. One of the main benefits is the patient is able to breathe on his own without assistance. It also allows people to have multiple procedures done all at once rather than several visits over a period of time. It is easy to administer, and it is relatively low in cost. It also may help reduce postoperative pain for a few hours. Oral sedation is good for people who do not like needles and prefer not to have IV sedation.
The Disadvantages Of Oral Sedation
Oral sedation also has a few drawbacks started withthat it is not usually covered by dental insurance. It requires someone to accompany the patient to his dental appointment and drive him home afterwards. The patient will need his companion to stay with him for a few hours until the sedation has worn off. Driving is prohibited for 24 hours after taking oral sedation. Also, the level of sedation can be unpredictable in different patients and it is not easy to reduce.
The most common prescribed medication for oral sedation is Halcion. The generic for Halcion is triazolam. Valium and Dalmane are also sometimes used. Children are usually prescribed Versed, which comes in liquid form. Dentists may also prescribe triazolam or flurazepam to help the patient sleep the night before the dental procedure is scheduled. The dentist will check the patient’s medical history for allergies and drug interactions prior to prescribing medication.
Who Benefits The Most From Oral Sedation
Good candidates for oral sedation are those who have a history of traumatic dental experiences. People who are fearful of the drilling sounds and smell associated with dental offices are also prime candidates as it depresses the person’s consciousness of these things. Other people who often choose to have oral sedation are people who have trouble getting numb or those who have bad gag reflexes. Oral sedation will relieve the anxiety associated with dental treatment and make the experience as comfortable as possible.
It has been estimated that 50% of Americans avoid going to the dentist at all costs. Many people will wait until they are in severe pain to make that dreaded phone call that will put them out of their misery. With routine dental checkups, a lot of the pain and suffering of an infected tooth could be avoided. Unfortunately most people wait until it is too late to prevent major dental problems.Oral conscious sedation is a way to manage pain for the extremely fearful dental patient. In oral sedation, a pill is taken prior to the dental appointment to help relax the patient and control anxiety. The patient will need to be driven to his dental appointment by a companion. During the procedure, the patient will be awake and will be able to follow commands, but he will have a depressed level of consciousness, and may feel out of it and groggy. The pill that is given has an amnesia effect. After the procedure is over, it is very likely that the patient will have little or no memory of the visit from the time the pill took effect.
The Advantages Of Oral Sedation
There are many benefits to oral sedation. One of the main benefits is the patient is able to breathe on his own without assistance. It also allows people to have multiple procedures done all at once rather than several visits over a period of time. It is easy to administer, and it is relatively low in cost. It also may help reduce postoperative pain for a few hours. Oral sedation is good for people who do not like needles and prefer not to have IV sedation.
The Disadvantages Of Oral Sedation
Oral sedation also has a few drawbacks started withthat it is not usually covered by dental insurance. It requires someone to accompany the patient to his dental appointment and drive him home afterwards. The patient will need his companion to stay with him for a few hours until the sedation has worn off. Driving is prohibited for 24 hours after taking oral sedation. Also, the level of sedation can be unpredictable in different patients and it is not easy to reduce.
The most common prescribed medication for oral sedation is Halcion. The generic for Halcion is triazolam. Valium and Dalmane are also sometimes used. Children are usually prescribed Versed, which comes in liquid form. Dentists may also prescribe triazolam or flurazepam to help the patient sleep the night before the dental procedure is scheduled. The dentist will check the patient’s medical history for allergies and drug interactions prior to prescribing medication.
Who Benefits The Most From Oral Sedation
Good candidates for oral sedation are those who have a history of traumatic dental experiences. People who are fearful of the drilling sounds and smell associated with dental offices are also prime candidates as it depresses the person’s consciousness of these things. Other people who often choose to have oral sedation are people who have trouble getting numb or those who have bad gag reflexes. Oral sedation will relieve the anxiety associated with dental treatment and make the experience as comfortable as possible.
Monday, August 13, 2007
Taking Bite Out Of Dental Bills
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Reprinted from MySanAntonio.com
Posted 08/09/2007 by Nancy Martinez
Last summer, fresh out of dental school at the State University of New York at Buffalo, Kerry Ragbir fulfilled a long-time dream of starting a dental practice. Because of its booming growth, he chose San Antonio.
Since then, Dr. Ragbir has tripled the value of his dental practice. Things have gone so well, he said, he has signed the lease for a new practice in North Bexar County.
Now, Ragbir says, it's time to give something back.
Like other dentists before him, Ragbir will reach out to the city's poor by offering free dental service on the second Saturday of each month, beginning this Saturday.
Patients will be seen at his office at 4871 Fredericksburg Road from 9 a.m. to 12 noon on a first-come, first-served basis. They'll also be held to an honesty policy: though Ragbir won't ask for proof, only indigent cases are welcomed.
I'm doing this because it's the right thing to do," he said. "There are people here who need help."
Ragbir's motivation is rooted in his history.
The son of a tobacco industry worker, he grew up poor on the island of Trinidad in the Caribbean.
Dentist Kerry Ragbir works with a patient at his Fredericksburg Road office. Starting this weekend, Ragbir will provide free dental work from 9 a.m. to noon at his office on the second Saturday of each month.
Ragbir, 29, moved to America in 1997 when he joined the Navy. He was trained to become a dental technician and used his GI bill toward his bachelor's degree.
"Everybody else was partying and I was busy studying calculus and physics," he said.
Ragbir applied and was accepted to medical school, where he completed his coursework nine months early.
Ragbir said his mission is to improve access to dental care for underserved families in San Antonio; he hopes to inspire other dentists to do the same.
About eight months ago, a janitor at his practice had an abscess that he offered to treat for free. She was grateful, he said, but he felt good for providing the service. Then, he watched Michael Moore's latest documentary, "Sicko," which explores how many Americans don't have access to even basic health care.
"I'm not a fan of Michael Moore, but once I got this idea in my head, I couldn't get it out," Ragbir said.
Evelina Stephenson, executive director of the San Antonio District Dental Society, said there are clinics that offer free and low-cost dental assistance and that dentists are known to help in their own ways.
"It's not unheard of at all for a dentist to provide free care on a routine basis. Most of our dentists in San Antonio offer free care in various ways. To set aside four hours is a little bit of a different approach than what other dentists would take. We applaud his efforts."
So, what will Ragbir do when he gets overwhelmed with people who want free service?
"As much as I can," Ragbir answers. "I'm not superman, but I can make a difference."
And how long does he plan to continue offering free service?
"As long as I have a license to practice."
Saturday, August 4, 2007
How Much Toothpaste Should You Use
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“Your teeth are going to become black and fall out of you mouth by your thirteenth birthday!”
Between your mom's doomsday warnings about what will befall your mouth should you fail to brush often enough, your dentist's nagging that you don't floss enough, and TV's barrage of advertisements promoting the importance of dazzlingly, blindingly white teeth, kids can get pretty scared of what might happen to their teeth, and many start overcompensating by putting huge mounds of toothpaste on their brushes. After all, more toothpaste must mean cleaner teeth, right?
Wrong. According to the American Dental Association, a child needs only a small amount of toothpaste for brushing, the equivalent of the size of their pinky finger's nail, while adults need a thin layer just long enough to cover the length of the bristles, and not a pile. An integral part of your family dental plan should not be to simply have your kids brush more, but to brush correctly.
This is one case where size really doesn't matter.
“Your teeth are going to become black and fall out of you mouth by your thirteenth birthday!”
Between your mom's doomsday warnings about what will befall your mouth should you fail to brush often enough, your dentist's nagging that you don't floss enough, and TV's barrage of advertisements promoting the importance of dazzlingly, blindingly white teeth, kids can get pretty scared of what might happen to their teeth, and many start overcompensating by putting huge mounds of toothpaste on their brushes. After all, more toothpaste must mean cleaner teeth, right?
Wrong. According to the American Dental Association, a child needs only a small amount of toothpaste for brushing, the equivalent of the size of their pinky finger's nail, while adults need a thin layer just long enough to cover the length of the bristles, and not a pile. An integral part of your family dental plan should not be to simply have your kids brush more, but to brush correctly.
This is one case where size really doesn't matter.
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