Afraid of the Dentist?
Bad news/Good news
The fact is nobody including myself, enjoys 2-3 hands carrying sharp and potentially dangerous instruments in their mouths. Getting dentistry done on the teeth is not fun. However for the promise of a future of good-looking teeth, free from toothaches, we have to submit ourselves to the discomfort of laying down still for hours on end and straining our necks while others maneuver sharp instruments in our mouths. This was the bad news. The good news is that I have invested in numerous modalities to make this experience as pleasant as possible.
Sleep dentistry
I
use a combination of sedatives and narcotics through an intra-venous drip to achieve the optimal sedation for the procedure. Depending on your preference you can fall into natural sleep
by these medications. This protocol is used for most of the surgical procedures and for procedures
that are longer than 2 hours. In select individuals with severe phobias I can use this protocol
for shorter procedures.
This is NOT general anesthesia and you will be responsive throughout the procedure. I have found this to be very effective and adequate in alleviating the fear and discomfort associated with dental procedures. State of the art monitoring equipments, an uptodate medical emergency crash cart and an Automatic External Defibrillator make this very safe for all patients.
Iatrogenic Sedation
I learned this technique from Dr. Nathan Friedman who was the inventor of this method. From 1986 until 1991, I was clinical assistant professor in the department of Human Behavior at the USC School of Dentistry and was involved in teaching it to the dental students.
Through series of systemic questioning and commitments I will try to desensitize you to the issues you may have with receiving dental care.
Chair-side Entertainment
MOVIES — I have gone all out on this one. Every treatment room in the office has a DVD player and a VCR. I have hung flat panel monitors from the ceilings so that you can see your selected title while laying flat on your back. The sound quality is great through the wireless headphones. We have hundreds of DVD or VHS movies that you can choose from or you can bring your own title.
Calf Massager — It can help to relieve some stress.
Warm Blankets — It is true that we keep the temperatures in the treatment room pretty low. But it does not mean that you should not be kept warm and comfortable. We have regular and electric blankets in every room.
Supportive assistants — I am indeed proud and privileged to have Carla and Rosie as my assistants. They have extensive training and they truly care for the well being of the patients. They explain the procedures before I come in the room. When I finish they will stay with you to go over the instructions and answer any questions.