Ready to feel comfortable with dental treatment?
Many of us have an uneasy feeling, a nagging fear, even a dread of dental treatment. It’s very real, and it’s not just because of the possibility of pain.
It’s because many of us have experienced a lie from a medical professional. “This won’t hurt,” or “Raise your hand if you’re in pain and I’ll stop” are just two of the promises that sometimes turn out to be untrue. One bad experience is enough to compromise your trust in dentists forever.
Causing pain is a failure in both technology and caring. Sadly, many dentists are not well educated about pain reduction and prevention. But at Waterston Dental, we’re so committed to your comfort that we’ve spent many hours studying and mastering advanced numbing techniques and other methods for dramatically improved gentleness.
We make your experience predictable, so we earn your trust. We want you to be numb and secure in your numbness. We don’t make promises we can’t keep. Most important, we put you in control. You get to choose the experience that will make you most comfortable from a wide range of numbing and sedation options, including nitrous oxide gas or intravenous sedation. If you’re hard to numb, we promise to give you extra numbness to assure your complete comfort
As trust overcomes bad memories, you can finally relax. You’ll feel better about yourself when you leave your old fears behind. You’ll stop labelling yourself a “bad patient”. When we see new patients who are nervous, we always see a great dental patient just waiting for the right time to come out and shine. One of our most important goals is to help you grow into that person.
Most important, you’ll get the care you need. You can catch up on years of dental treatment more quickly than you’d imagine. So start today to improve your smile or correct that problem you can no longer neglect. Our meticulous personal care begins when you request your appointment.
Call now: 610-891-1718
Comfort good, pain bad
Many of you grew up during dentistry’s “nightmare years.” Treatment was painful, often done without anesthetics like novocaine, and it was common to have pain after the treatment. Let’s fast-forward to 2010. With the state-of-the-art bonding techniques I use, it is unusual to have pain after even complex dental treatment. Why is it important that you know about this? It’s because the five most dangerous words in the English language are “maybe it will go away.” If you have ANY pain after dental treatment, please call us. Usually the problem is simple to fix; for example, if you were so numb at the visit that we were unable to shape a filling to fit your bite perfectly, all you’ll need is a quick bite adjustment. If you ever have pain after a dental procedure we do, please call right away to tell us. We promise you that we will tell you if any of us ever does a procedure where some post-treatment pain can be expected (such as surgery), and we’ll do everything possible to minimize what you feel.
A lovely testimonial
I recently received a lovely letter from a patient. It is printed below with her permission in the hope it will help others with similar feelings. After all, WE LIVE FOR YOUR COMFORT©
“Dear Dr. Buzz, Lynn, Michelle, Lisa, et al, I DID IT!!!!!….I actually survived the 2-step process of having an onlay applied to one of my teeth. This generally self-assured, 55 year-old woman (who you now realize—while in the dentist’s chair—carries the fears of her 8 year-old “inner-child”), would NEVER have gotten through the procedure, had I not felt the extra-ordinary compassion and support that each of you showed me from the start.
While I was not ashamed of my reaction (e.g., the unbelievable “Fight-or-Flight” shaking), I certainly was grateful than not one of you ever made me feel like there was something “wrong” with me.
I am so fortunate to be a patient in your practice, Dr. Buzz. You are an exceptionally talented, caring dentist, who has surrounded himself with perhaps the most AMAZING, COMPETENT team of professionals in the community!
My heartfelt thanks to one and all for getting me through what I suspect is not actually that “harrowing” an experience to those who do not have deeply-rooted (no pun intended) painful memories of their childhoods in the dental chair.” Deborah D. M.
Introduction to sedation dentistry (Check Out Our Sedation Video)
I received my sedation training in 2000; one of the best decisions I ever made. Here’s a brief overview of sedation:
A new level of relaxation…
Our office team is trained, equipped and licensed to offer you sedation dentistry. You can restore your smile and general dental health, and enhance your confidence while you “daydream” your way through dental treatment. Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about sedation dentistry:
What is sedation dentistry?
Sedation dentistry allows you to reach a state of advanced relaxation during dental treatment. Medication is given intra-venously. IV sedation takes effect faster than oral pills and provides the ultimate in predictability.
What does sedation feel like?
You are awake during sedation dentistry (this is why it is referred to as “conscious sedation”). You are in a daydream-like state. While you’re under sedation, you don’t know, don’t care, don’t feel, and, afterwards, you don’t remember. You can respond to questions, groan at a terrible joke, or laugh at a good joke or funny comment. What is taken away is the sense of fear and anxiety that so many people feel during dental treatment. The medication helps you feel relaxed and “removed” from the normal sensations of dental procedures.
Is sedation dentistry safe?
Sedation dentistry, performed under the supervision of a specially-trained dentist, has an admirable safety record. While any treatment has potential risks, the risks of properly-administered sedation dentistry are quite low. The fewer medications that are used, the easier it is to track any potential problems. Our office uses only one or two medications. For extra safety, “reversing agents” are available that can counteract the sedating medications within a few minutes.
What medications are used?
The IV sedation drug we use most is a benzodiazepine called Versed. It is related to valium but is much shorter-acting (that is, it wears off much more quickly). We may use a small amount of the narcotic Fentanyl if you can’t be fully comfortable with Versed alone, and/or use valium if you need longer sedation than versed can provide
How will I feel afterwards?
The after-effects of sedation dentistry are surprisingly few. Your body more effectively produces endorphins when you’re relaxed, so post-treatment discom-fort is dramatically reduced. Some people do feel tired after treatment. What most people will notice is little or no memory of the actual procedure (this is especially true a few days later). For a dental phobic, this is a very powerful positive experience.
What level of training does a dentist need?
The American Dental Association mandates completion of a 60-hour course. There are stringent requirements for course content, including practical experience sedating patients as well as extensive “classroom” instruction. Pennsylvania requires 20 hours of training beyond this. I received my initial training at Montefiore Hospital in New York City, take frequent continuing education courses, and maintain certification in Advanced Cardiac Life Support. I have been providing sedation dentistry since 2000 and am a member of the American Dental Society of Anesthesiology.
Can I have sedation dentistry in your office if I see another dentist?
Of course you can. Each dentist uses his or her own clinical judgment to determine what treatment you need and what is in your best interest. We would be happy to provide you with a comprehensive examination to determine what treatment you need and if you are a candidate for sedation
