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Drake & Wallace Dentistry

Archives for September 2022

Will Dental Sedation Remove Memories?

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I want to get some dental work done, but I get very anxious. I’ve been told dental sedation is a good solution for that. However, someone told me that I won’t remember the appointment. I think they meant that as a good thing, but to be honest that scared me even more. I don’t want to not know what happens to me. Is there a way to get medicine to relax me that will keep my memory intact?

Lillie

Dear Lillie,

Woman with nose piece for nitrous oxide

You have a couple of options here. First, there are different types of dental sedation. The lightest is nitrous oxide. This does not cause any memory loss. It is administered by breathing through a nosepiece. It is strong enough to relax you but not cause you to lose your memories. Once your procedure is done, the dentist will switch from nitrous to oxygen. This will ensure you are completely lucid before you leave the office and you’ll be able to get on with your day as normal.

A second, stronger type of dental sedation is done with oral conscious sedation. This is administered by a pill. However, the strength requires that you have someone drive to and from your appointment as well as stay with you for a few hours afterward until you are lucid and steady on your feet again.  Be aware that not all dentists offer this option. Nitrous, on the other hand, can be gotten from almost any dentist.

Obviously, given your concerns, you would want to try the lightest form of sedation. However, if your anxiety is so high that nitrous isn’t as effective as you’d like, you will be better off with the oral conscious sedation. Because you are worried about memories, you could always talk to the dentist about your concerns. I am certain he would allow someone to join you in the operatory so you can feel safe and secure.

This blog is brought to you by Decatur, AL Dentists Drs. Drake and Wallace.

Dark Spot On My Son’s Tooth: Should He See a Pediatric Dentist?

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Hi, I’m Lindsay. I’m looking for a pediatric dentist for my son Lewis. He’s only 4, but I think I see a dark spot on one of his molars. I don’t understand how he got a cavity, because I brush his teeth every day. He’s not complaining that it hurts or anything, I’m just worried about it getting bigger. Is four too young to have x-rays and a filling? 

Smiling boy with a toothbrush

Dear Lindsay,

I am glad you wrote. It’s great that you’ve noticed the spot on your son’s tooth, those can be easy to miss. Sharp eye, Mom! It’s clear you’re paying attention to his mouth, and are involved in his oral health. 

Is four too young to have x-rays and an exam or fillings?

The short answer here is no, four is not too young to have a checkup and x-rays if possible. Dentists who treat children see four-year-olds all the time! It is always better to get a child to the dentist as early as possible so that their experiences are positive and not shrouded and scary from a dental emergency.

I see a dark spot, is it a cavity?

It is a possibility. In baby teeth, as in adult teeth, there are grooves in the biting surface of the tooth which are part of the normal anatomy. this is especially true on back teeth.  There are a couple different types, and depending on the size, location and shape they may be called pits, or fissures. These assist in the breakdown of food during chewing. Some patients may naturally have deeper grooves than others, which might appear dark, or may trap food debris and bacteria. So, those dark spots could be a hard to clean area that has something trapped or it could be decay from bacteria that was trapped there. 

This is one of the reasons dentists recommend sealings on children’s back teeth. It is a painless procedure and is great protection for children’s back teeth. My suggestion is to take him in and have it evaluated sooner rather than later. The earlier something is caught, the less invasive the solution is.

If it is a cavity, how did he get it? 

It’s great that you’re brushing his teeth daily; it’s an important part of his oral care and it’s modeling and establishing healthy habits he’ll need throughout life. As you know, it’s best to brush twice daily, and floss them for him as well. However, one of the biggest causes of decay is frequent snacking. If your son snacks a lot throughout the day or drinks a lot of juice, it will contribute to decay even with superb oral hygiene. I would limit snacks to no more than two a day and make sure he is drinking more water than juice. 

This blog is brought to you by Decatur, AL Dentists Drs. Drake and Wallace.