FAQ

Which patients can benefit from Anesthesia in the dental office?

Dental phobic patients and patients requiring extensive dental work or more invasive procedures

Children and other non-compliant patients

Patients with altered pain threshold, difficulty getting numb, or an overactive gag reflex

Patients with significant medical conditions

 

Is anesthesia safe?

How are financial arrangements made?

How does the process work?

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Which patients can benefit from Anesthesia in the dental office?
Patients may benefit from intravenous sedation and anesthesia for their dental work due to a variety of reasons. These include anxiety and phobia about dental treatments and needles, need for extensive dental work or more invasive procedures, inability to comply with the necessary dental treatments, altered pain threshold, difficulty getting numb, an overactive gag reflex, and significant medical conditions.

Dental phobic patients and patients requiring extensive dental work or more invasive procedures: Surveys have shown that 10% of Americans avoid the dentist due to their high anxiety about dental treatments. An additional 20% fail to follow through with their needed treatments due to their discomfort. Using the appropriate anesthetic technique, Dr. Eshaghian can ensure that these patients are completely relaxed and comfortable or fully asleep as the dental treatment is done. Some patients require extensive dental work which leads to many hours in the dental chair and/or multiple visits to the dentist. Other patients may require more invasive procedures which can result in discomfort even with profound local anesthesia. With the aid of Dr. Eshaghian, these treatments may be completed in one visit as the patient comfortably sleeps.

Children and other non-compliant patients: These patients usually do not comprehend the necessity of dental treatments and do not cooperate with the dentist. This can limit the dentist’s ability to do the required work and can lead to a negative experience for the patient and the patient’s family. With children, this negative experience can bring about a fear of dentistry and an avoidance of dental work later in life. This is especially true if there is any pain associated as the work is getting done. Dr. Eshaghian has extensive experience in treating pediatric patients. With the use of anesthesia, Dr. Eshaghian can ensure that these patients are comfortably sleeping as the work gets done and provide a more optimal working environment for the dentist. All of the required dentistry is usually completed in one appointment.

Patients with altered pain threshold, difficulty getting numb, or an overactive gag reflex: Each person perceives pain differently than others. Some may perceive greater degrees of pain at even lower levels of stimulus. Difficulty getting the teeth numb may render routine local anesthetic given by the dentist insufficient or ineffective. Likewise, an overactive gag reflex or a fear of swallowing or choking on dental instruments may make it impossible for the dentist to place objects or work within the patient’s mouth. By the use of intravenous anesthetics, Dr. Eshaghian can diminish these hurdles and allow the patient to receive the required dentistry.

Patients with significant medical conditions: Some patients may present with TMJ pain or back pain which would make opening their mouth or sitting in the dental chair very difficult for them. Other patients may have heart conditions, breathing conditions, etc., which can worsen with the stress of dentistry or the injection of Local Anesthetic solutions. While being carefully monitored, these patients can be kept comfortable and stress-free by the use of intravenous anesthetics.

Is anesthesia safe?
Advancements in monitoring equipments and administration techniques have allowed in office dental anesthesia to be an extremely safe and satisfying experience. In addition to Dr. Eshaghian’s vigilance during the entire treatment, all vital signs are continuously monitored by the following computer controlled equipment:
Pulse Oximeter (blood oxygen level)
Precordial Stethoscope/Capnography (respirations)
Electrocardiograph (heart rate and rhythm)
Blood Pressure Cuff (blood pressure and circulation)
Temperature Probe (temperature regulation)
Oxygen is continuously delivered for optimal safety. With the use of intravenous anesthetics and other intravenous medications, Dr. Eshaghian is able to keep all of these vital parameters, as well as the patient’s level of anesthesia, within optimal ranges during the entire course of the treatment. Dr. Eshaghian has all the necessary resuscitative drugs and equipments and he is certified in Basic Life Support, Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support, and Pediatric Advanced Life Support.

How are financial arrangements made?
Anesthesia provided in the dental office costs significantly less than similar services provided in hospitals or most outpatient surgery centers. An estimate of the cost of treatment is always provided prior to the day of appointment. Select insurance plans are accepted and all patients are provided with a statement of services and any other assistance needed to request reimbursement from other insurance carriers. Cash, check, and all major credit/debit cards are accepted. For patients unable to pay for the services on the day of appointment, Care Credit is also accepted and those arrangements can be made beforehand.

How does the process work?
After an appointment time has been made, the dental office will provide Dr. Eshaghian with your contact information. Dr. Eshaghian will call you before the day of the appointment to discuss the health history and to discuss the anesthetic level and technique appropriate for the patient and the treatments being done (ranging from mild sedation to general anesthesia). Dr. Eshaghian will also provide you with verbal and written instructions to be followed before and after the appointment time and he will answer any other questions that you may have. On the day of the appointment, Dr. Eshaghian will meet you in the office to provide you or your loved one with a relaxing and comfortable anesthetic experience as all of the dental treatments are completed. Recovery is rapid and most patients are able to leave the office approximately 30 minutes after the completion of the procedure.