
We're always tickled to see dentists represented in popular culture, especially when portrayed by an actor as handsome as John Stamos. On the hit television show Glee, Stamos played a dentist who made sure the glee club members cleaned up their act when it came to oral hygiene — though perhaps he used a bit too much anesthesia to achieve this admirable goal. While under his care — and lots of sedation — several Glee characters had music-infused hallucinations in which they danced and sang with pop star Britney Spears.
Far-fetched? No doubt. Still, it's worth mentioning that sedation has its place in dentistry. In fact, if you are someone who tends to get anxious or even fearful about dental treatment, you should know that sedation can help you relax both mind and body so you can feel peaceful rather than anxious in the dentist's chair. And that's the whole point: Fear of pain should not stand in the way of your getting the care that will keep you healthy and allow you to keep your teeth for as long as possible.
You may not know this, but when you are afraid, your threshold for pain is actually lower. You become hypersensitive to every sensation and sound, and you tense your muscles. Fear and anxiety trigger the release of certain chemicals that put you in “fight or flight” mode. In this heightened state of alert you experience more pain during and even after treatment.
The good news is that this response can virtually be eliminated with various oral sedatives and/or with nitrous oxide, which is inhaled. Both treatments will allow you to let your guard down and relax. Your apprehension and hypersensitivity to pain will disappear, even though you are still conscious. And when you are relaxed, we are better able to focus on the task at hand, knowing that you are comfortable.
The sedatives used in dentistry have been subjected to rigorous testing and have a strong safety record backed by decades of use. Several even have “amnesic” properties, meaning that you will remember little to nothing of your treatment — unless, of course, you end up singing and dancing with Britney Spears!
If you would like more information about sedation in dentistry, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Oral Sedation Dentistry.” Dear Doctor also has more on “Overcoming Dental Fear & Anxiety.”
Comments:
Blog Content
Archive:
- 2019
- January (6)
- Crazy Little Thing Called... Hyperdontia?
- Transform Your Smile with Porcelain Veneers
- Treating a Young, Permanent Tooth Requires a Different Approach
- Dental Implants Better than Ever thanks to Ongoing Tech Advances
- NBC Star Delivers a Message about the "Perfect" Smile
- Be Alert to the Unintended Consequences of Cancer Treatment to Oral Health
- 2018
- November (6)
- 2.6 Million Fans 'Like' Justin Bieber's Chipped Tooth
- Practice Caution with Energy or Sports Drinks to Protect Your Enamel
- This November, Become a Non-Smoker
- Take a Look into Your Future with a Trial Smile
- Dental Injury Is Just a Temporary Setback for Basketball Star Kevin Love
- Moderate Your Child's Juice Drinking to Lower Tooth Decay Risk
- October (6)
- Even with Mercury, Dental Amalgam is a Safe Choice for Tooth Filling
- Guide Your Older Children or Teens through These 3 Oral Health Areas
- Sofia Vergara: 'Obsessed' With Oral Hygiene
- Follow These Common Sense Steps When Your Child has a Toothache
- Keep on Course during the 3 Phases of a Smile Makeover
- Do you need Simple Tooth Removal or Surgery? It Depends on a few Factors
- September (6)
- Steely Dan Founder's Death Highlights Importance of Early Cancer Detection
- Fixed or Removable: Deciding Which Implant-Supported Bridge is Best for You
- Chewing Tobacco is Just as Addictive and Dangerous as Smoking
- Veneers may Offer a Less Invasive Way to Transform Your Smile
- Fan of Superhero Film Black Panther Breaks Steel Wire...with Her Mouth!
- It's National Gum Care Month - Take Care of Your Gums
- August (6)
- Answers to Common Questions About Root Canal Treatments
- Advances in Dental Health that may be Waiting for us Just around the Corner
- Margot Robbie Knows: A Great Smile Is Worth Protecting
- Sleep Apnea Might be Robbing you of More than a Good Night's Sleep
- Don't Fear the Root Canal - it Could Save Your Tooth
- 'Simple' Tooth Extractions are a Common Dental Procedure
- July (7)
- A Different Kind of "Chip Shot" for Pro Golfer Danielle Kang
- Ready for Summer Camp? Be Sure to Pack a Toothbrush
- What Happens in a Root Canal Treatment and How it Can Save Your Tooth
- Take Steps to Treat Chronic Mouth Breathing as Early as Possible
- Julianne Hough Shares a Video - and a Song - After Wisdom Teeth Come Out
- Get Your Vitamins the Natural Way for Optimum Dental Health
- Replacing a Back Tooth May Help You Avoid Future Dental Problems
- June (6)
- Don't Forget Hidden Fluoride Sources Your Family Could be Ingesting
- Charlize Theron Back in Action After Dental Surgery
- Tips to Brighten Your Summer Smile
- Lasers Beginning to Change Some Root Canal Procedures
- Get a Look at Your Future Makeover Look Now with a 'Trial Smile'
- How Kathy Bates Retains Her Movie-Star Smile
- March (5)
- Instill Good Dental Habits in Your Child as Early as Possible
- In Today's NFL, Oral Hygiene Takes Center Stage
- Lasers Adding New Precision and Efficiency to Root Canal Treatments
- A Root Canal Treatment may be Your Best Chance to Save a Tooth
- Not Enough Bone Support for an Implant? Here's a Way to Rebuild It
- 2017
- May (5)
- Clean Your Implants Just Like you Clean Your Natural Teeth
- Tooth-Colored Fillings Provide a Viable Alternative to Dental Amalgam
- No- or Minimal-Prep Veneers Reduce Permanent Alterations to Your Teeth
- Life Is Sometimes a Grind for Brooke Shields
- Only a Dental Exam can Identify the Root Cause of Your Tooth Pain
- April (5)
- The Top 3 Oral Problems in America - and What You Should Do About Them
- See Your new Look Before Dental Work with a 'Trial Smile'
- Fifth Harmony's Camila Cabello Chips a Tooth, but Concert Still "Worth It"
- Keep the Space between an Implant-Supported Bridge and the Gums Clean
- Don't Let Smoking Increase Your Chances of Implant Failure
- February (5)
- Try Conservative Measures to Treating TMD Before More Aggressive Options
- New Crowns Give Both Durability and Beauty to Problem Teeth
- Actress Emma Stone Reveals How Thumb Sucking Affected Her Teeth
- A Root Canal Can Stop Tooth Decay and Save Your Tooth
- Get an Early Start Treating Root Resorption Before it's Too Late
- 2016
- June (5)
- Getting the Full Picture of Your Decay Risk Leads to Better Prevention Strategies
- Consider a Removable Partial Denture as a Temporary Solution After Tooth Loss
- Not all Crowns are Alike - or Cost the Same
- Dr. Travis Stork: If Only I'd Worn A Mouthguard!
- Create a Strategy to Deal with Dental Problems to Avoid Future Expenses
- March (5)
- Though not Always Seen, it's Still Important to Replace a Missing Back Tooth
- Keep an Eye on your Gums to Catch Disease Early
- Jimmy Fallon Can’t Catch a Break - Except in His Tooth
- Treating Small Enamel Cracks Could Help you Avoid a Dangerous Tooth Fracture
- Although a Global Problem, Tooth Decay can be Prevented
- 2015
- December (5)
- Gaining a New Attractive Smile is More than Achievable
- Master Illusionist Benefits from the Magic of Orthodontics
- Daily Hygiene Tasks Performed Properly Help Ensure Good Oral Health
- Regenerating Lost Bone Can Make Dental Implants a Reality
- Some Patients Might Need Antibiotics Before Routine Dental Work
- October (7)
- Tom Hanks' Abscessed Tooth Gets Cast Away
- 12 Reasons Why Sweet Potato Is So Good For You
- Removing Wisdom Teeth now may Prevent Dental Problems Later
- Don't Panic! Take Methodical Approach to Help Your Child Stop Thumb Sucking
- NO INSURANCE...NO WORRIES!
- Limit Acidic Beverages to Protect Your Child's Tooth Enamel from Erosion
- New Front Teeth for a Teenaged David Duchovny
- 2014
- August (6)
- How Dentistry Saved Kathy Ireland's Smile
- Bad Breath Might be a Sign of a More Serious Oral Condition
- 7 Habits to Avoid While Brushing Your Teeth
- Dental Hygienist - Your Partner in Preventing Disease and Maintaining Oral Health
- Are Cavities Contagious?
- Fitness Expert Jillian Michaels Helps Kick Sleep Apnea
- 2013
- 2012
- 2011
- December (5)
- Stopping Addiction to Sugar: Willpower or Genetics? - tips from Berger Dental Bites
- SMILE FOR YOUR HEALTH - tips from Berger Dental Bites
- HEALTHY GUMS COULD PREVENT A HEART ATTACK - tips from Berger Dental Bites
- DENTAL INSURANCE - tips from Berger Dental Bites
- FIGHT HOLIDAY WEIGHT GAIN - tips from Berger Dental Bites
Tags
- celebrity smiles (86)
- oral health (51)
- local anesthesia (2)
- snoring and sleep apnea (2)
- common symptoms (4)
- dentures (5)
- bone grafting (3)
- dental implants (35)
- missing teeth (4)
- oral hygiene (33)
- tooth decay quiz (1)
- tooth decay (13)
- laser dentistry (3)
- bridge (3)
- dental implant (2)
- dental injury (7)
- dental emergency (2)
- root canal (8)
- pediatric dentistry (13)
- sinus surgery (2)
- nutrition (4)
- oral cancer (3)
- teeth whitening (10)
- cosmetic dentistry (32)
- dental health tips (1)
- dental emergencies (1)
- orthodontic treatment (8)
- sedation dentistry (4)
- oral sedation (3)
- dental anxiety (2)
- bad breath (5)
- toothache (6)
- tooth pain (8)
- wisdom teeth (6)
- braces (8)
- orthodontics (5)
- invisalign (1)
- clear orthodontic aligners (1)
- crown (2)
- mouth rinse (1)
- sealants (1)
- dental hygiene (1)
- clear aligners (2)
- furcation (1)
- bridgework (1)
- smile makeover (13)
- mouthguards (4)
- dental treatment (2)
- dental care (3)
- sleep apnea (5)
- cavity (1)
- dental hygienist (1)
- veneers (5)
- porcelain veneers (5)
- crowns (8)
- eating disorder (1)
- dental health (1)
- chipped teeth (2)
- dental erosion (1)
- loose dentures (1)
- impacted wisdom teeth (1)
- bonding (3)
- gum disease (8)
- heart disease (1)
- air abrasion (1)
- cambra (1)
- eating disorders (1)
- tooth wear (1)
- grinding (1)
- teething (1)
- chipped tooth (4)
- pregnancy (1)
- athletic mouthguards (1)
- snoring (4)
- gluten (1)
- cold sore (2)
- tooth erosion (1)
- thumb sucking (2)
- abscessed tooth (1)
- pediatric care (1)
- antibiotics (1)
- smile design (2)
- root canal treatment (7)
- tooth replacement (1)
- mouthguard (1)
- partial denture (2)
- teeth wear (1)
- root resorption (1)
- tmj disorders (3)
- dental implant bridge (1)
- teeth grinding (1)
- fillings (2)
- tooth grinding (1)
- shingles (1)
- extractions (2)
- oral appliance (1)
- sugar (1)
- wedding day smile (1)
- bone graft (1)
- oral heath (1)
- canker sore (1)
- tooth extraction (2)
- retainers (1)
- fluoride (1)
- retainer (2)
- chewing tobacco (1)
- sports drinks (1)
- GERD (1)
- flossing (1)
- cancer (1)
- extraction (1)
ADA Patient Library