Our dentist in those days was a fellow named Elton Storment, and though he was actually a very nice guy, someone once removed the S from the name on his sign, leaving him to be known briefly as Dr. Torment; my sister Debby seemed to find that particularly amusing, so much so that I now wonder if was actually she who modified the sign. Deb, assuming you still read my blog every now and then, what do you have to say for yourself on the subject?

Anyway,  whereas nowadays dentists garb themselves up so much you’d think they were preparing to do brain surgery, back then the only difference, appearance-wise, between our dentist and any grown man in the waiting room was the smock the dentist always wore. There was certainly no mask or eye protection, and I don’t recall him wearing latex gloves.

Another key difference I’ve noticed between 1970s dentistry and now has to do with spitting into a sink; that is, you don’t don’t do it anymore. Instead, there’s that little vacuum cleaner attachment that you’re supposed to close your lips around so it can siphon away all of the debris-laden saliva. I really never have gotten the hang of that; always feel like a part of my mouth is going to end up torn off and hurtling through the tube.

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Sedation options range from general sedation, to IV sedation, oral conscious sedation, nitrous oxide, and a variety of other modalities that are less commonly used. Sedation is often used in dentistry to help fearful patients complete procedures in a relaxed state without anxiety. It can also make surgery easier to perform because patients are much less likely to move at an inopportune moment, which can make the procedure more challenging.

One of the most common techniques utilized by dentists all over the country is oral conscious sedation. With oral conscious sedation, patients just take a safe little pill one hour before their appointment. This pill helps them to relax and eliminates their dental fear. Most patients snooze through the appointment, feel no discomfort, and have no memory of the procedures.

Many of these fearful patients begin chewing without pain and smiling with confidence for the first time in years. These benefits are often life-changing for people who have procrastinated getting their mouths healthy or enhancing their smiles. Sedation dentistry is even beneficial for patients who aren’t fearful, but would like to be more comfortable during lengthy dental procedures.

Of course, there are inherent risks with the use of any drug, so a careful consideration of one’s age and medical history is essential before utilizing any of these sedation techniques. Additionally, it is important for the dental team to discuss these issues thoroughly so that patients understand any potential drawbacks. However, when sedation is appropriate for a patient and it is administered properly, it is extremely safe.

Source: http://www.valpolife.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4495

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One of the area’s largest dental clinics will offer free cleanings, fillings and extractions Friday in an effort to treat people who can’t afford such services.

Staff at Howard Dental Group are expecting hundreds to turn out Friday for the business’ third annual “Dentistry From the Heart” clinic at Pooler Family Dental, 91 Brighton Woods Drive, off Highway 80 in Pooler.

More than 50 Howard Dental employees will participate, including eight dentists, 12 hygienists, 15 assistants and 16 administrative team members.

Wow! 50 staff members participating. That’s a lot of missed revenue for this dental practice and a lot of people helped…all in the name of goodness.

Today we  announced that all 195 affiliated practices have migrated from paper charts to electronic dental records (EDRs). The technology is user-friendly because it mimics the way that providers have traditionally used paper charts. EDRs are fully integrated with existing practice management solutions, such as patient treatment plans, charges, insurance records, digital x-rays, appointments and billing. By incorporating EDRs, PDS affiliated owner doctors are now able to run their practices more efficiently while enhancing patient care.

“We are committed to providing dentists with state-of-the-art resources for their practices, and our affiliated dentists have seen a tremendous value in EDRs. Patients’ records are more precise, can be located quickly, and are backed-up to minimize the impact of catastrophic events. Furthermore, our PDS network is secure so patients can be assured that their privacy will continue to be maintained,” said Steve Thorne, Pacific Dental Services founder and president.

“Using EDRs has been such an advantage in running my practice. Ultimately, I was pleased that PDS offered my office the opportunity to make the transition to EDRs so that I can open a chart and study it from any workstation in my office. The time I would have spent locating my patients’ charts can now be allocated to treating the patients themselves,” said Lance Rygg, DDS. “Of course, the fact that EDRs are environmentally friendly, require less storage space, and are backed-up in the event of an emergency are also great benefits.”

Source: http://www.pacificdentalservices.com/blog/index.php/2009/11/19/pds-goes-fully-digital-electronic-dental-records-in-every-office/