General Anesthesia for Dental Care

May 14th, 2012 Posted in Dentistry for Developmentally Disabled
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Most people associate general anesthesia with a surgical procedure, but for some dental patients, dental care under general anesthesia is the only safe, comfortable way to get the dental care they need.  While many dentists offer milder forms of sedation such as nitrous oxide (laughing gas) and mild oral sedatives, only a few highly trained dental specialists offer dental care under general anesthesia (also called hospital sleep sedation dentistry).

These specially trained dentists provide a complete range of dental care  - everything from dental cleanings and check-ups to fillings, root canals, caps, veneers, bridges, and other dental procedures.  While dental care under general anesthesia may seem a little “over the top”, the reality is that hospital sleep dentistry provides much needed dental care for patients cannot get the care they need in any other way.

For example, many patients with a developmental disability cannot tolerate dental care in a traditional setting, even with the strongest conscious sedatives.  These patients often forgo dental care which seriously compromises their oral health as well as their overall health.  Hospital sleep dentistry provides a means for these patients to receive safe, comfortable dental care that helps maintain their oral health and improves their quality of life.

Other patients suffer from uncontrollable dental phobia that is so severe that hospital sleep dentistry is the only way they can receive dental care.  Other candidates for hospital sleep dentistry include patients who are allergic to novocaine or who cannot get numb with novocaine or other analgesics.  Some patients have medical conditions that make it uncomfortable or even impossible to tolerate dental care in a traditional dental setting.

For all of these patients and more, hospital sleep dentistry offers a solution – safe, anxiety free, comfortable dental care in a hospital operating room under full anesthesia.

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Dental Care for the Patient With Cerebral Palsy

November 3rd, 2011 Posted in Dentistry for Developmentally Disabled
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Good oral hygiene and dental care are important parts of an overall health care program for children and adults with cerebral palsy.  These patients have the same susceptibility to oral and dental diseases as the general population, but they often do not get adequate dental care.  The result is that their oral health and overall health suffers.

The lack of dental care can be due to a variety of factors including delaying dental care to deal with more pressing health care issues, but in many cases, cerebral palsy patients do not receive the same level of dental care because they can be challenging patients and many dental practices do not have the experience or the inclination to take the time necessary to meet the special needs of these patients.

Cerebral palsy patients may present a number of issues that make traditional dentistry difficult to perform.  They often have poor motor control and unable to remain still during a dental procedure.  Patients may also have severe gag reflex and difficulties swallowing.  In addition, cerebral palsy patients may experience high levels of anxiety about dental care and have trouble tolerating teeth cleaning or minor dental procedures.

Fortunately, there are dental practices that specialize in caring for patients with developmental disabilities.  They understand and are equipped to deal with special needs patients.  In some cases, patients are able to receive the dental care they need in the dentist’s office using a combination of a caring, trained dental staff and mild sedatives.

In other case, dental care is safely performed in a specially equipped operating room while the patient is under general anesthesia.  Sleep dentistry is a safe and humane way for special needs patients to get the dental care they need.

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Dental Care for Patients With Rett Syndrome

July 21st, 2011 Posted in Dentistry for Developmentally Disabled
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Rett syndrome is a rare genetic disorder that primarily affects young females.  Most males with the disorder die during infancy.  Believed to be caused by a genetic mutation, Rett syndrome usually appears between the ages of 6 to 18 months.  Up to that point, the child develops normally, but then stops developing and begins to regress, losing fine motor skills and speech skills. 

When the disease has fully developed, most individuals display repetitive hand and tongue movements, lack of motor control, and limited communication skills.  Most patients suffer from frequent seizures, shaking, abnormal breathing, and the inability to control their movements.

Dental care for patients with Rett syndrome can be very difficult.  Due to the patient’s inability to control their movements, frequent seizures, and breathing difficulties, traditional dental practices can be dangerous for these patients. 

At the same time, it is very important for patients with Rett syndrome to maintain good oral health.  Most Rett syndrome patients, especially adolescents, have difficulty eating and accordingly do not get sufficient nutrition.  Poor oral health can make this problem even worse.

If you are a caregiver for a person with Rett syndrome, consider a consultation with a dentist who specializes in sleep and sedation dentistry.  Dentists who practice in this specialty area have advanced training in administering moderate to full sedation and treating dental patients under sedation. 

Sleep and sedation dentistry is a humane, safe, painless way for many hard to treat patients to receive the dental care they need including everything from cleanings to filling cavities and other dental procedures.  In some cases, moderate conscious sedation is sufficient for the patient to comfortably tolerate the treatment in the dentist’s office.  For other, the safest and most comfortable option is full sedation in a specially equipped hospital operating suite.  Your dentist will determine an appropriate level of sedation depending on the needs of the patient.

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Huntington’s Disease and Dental Care

July 21st, 2011 Posted in Dentistry for Developmentally Disabled, Sedation Dentistry
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Huntington’s disease is an inherited disorder that typically strikes when the patient is in their 40’s or 50’s.  It causes nerve cells in the brain to degenerate, resulting in movement disorders such as involuntary jerking, muscle contractions, and difficulty swallowing.  Patients also often lack the ability to control their impulses and may suffer from mania, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive behavior. 

Good dental care is important for individuals with Huntington’s disease.  Due to the difficulty in swallowing, patients have a difficult time eating enough and often turn to a diet high in sugar to get the calories they need.  At the same time, they often lack the physical dexterity to brush their teeth properly.  The combination of a high sugar diet and poor brushing habits results in poor oral health and a higher than normal rate of developing cavities.

Regular routine dental care including frequent cleanings can help, but normal dental practices can be dangerous for Huntington’s disease patients because of their inability o control their movements.  If you are a caregiver for a person with Huntington’s disease, talk to your dentist about increased focus on the prevention of tooth decay in the patient.  More frequent cleanings and the application of fluoride can help slow tooth decay.

In addition, look for a dentist that specializes in sleep and sedation dentistry.  Only a few dentists have the training and experience needed for this specialty practice area, but sleep and sedation dentistry is a humane way for Huntington’s disease patients to get high quality dental care safely, comfortably, and without pain or anxiety. 

The dentist will recommend a level of sedation appropriate for the individual patient and the dental procedures needed.  The sedation can range from moderate conscious sedation to full general anesthesia.  Sleep and sedation dentistry has helped millions of special needs patients get the dental care they need.

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Dentistry for Developmentally Disabled Persons

December 9th, 2010 Posted in Dentistry for Developmentally Disabled
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Obtaining dental care for developmentally disabled persons poses a real challenge.  Many  Americans have mental or physical disabilities that prevent them for sitting in a dentist’s chair for more than a few minutes.  Since most dental procedures take at least an hour and can last as long as eight hours, people with these disabilities are prohibited from seeking traditional dental care. 

Also, developmentally disabled persons often experience a high level of anxiety related to dental care.  In addition, there are often transportation issues and concerns about Medicaid reimbursement.

For those with developmental disabilities, the lack of available dental care is problematic because they face situations which lead to dental pathology more often than the general population.  The lack of available dental care for this population only further compromises the generally poor state of their dental health.

Because of the special needs of developmentally disables persons, most dental practices are not set up to provide dental care to the developmentally disabled.  Finding a dentist willing to provide dental care might take some diligent effort.

Dentistry for developmentally disabled persons is generally provided in a specially equipped hospital operating room.  Assisted by a trained anesthesiologist and surgical nurses, a dentist specially trained in dental care for developmentally disabled persons performs the dental procedures while the patient is under general anesthesia.

Medical colleges provide the specialized training necessary for developmentally disabled dentistry.  One way to locate a local provider is to contact one of these programs for a referral.  Also, your state Dental Association or the American Dental Association may be able to refer you to a local provider.

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