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Painless Family Dentistry for Those in Fear of the Drill

Painless dentistry techniques should be among the first concerns when a Texan searches for a family dentist San Antonio style. Maybe a discussion of the past attempts at eliminating pain in dental procedures will foster an appreciation of current dental techniques.

The history of dental practices is as fascinating as the history of the Alamo. Along about the time that Jim Bowie and Davie Crockett were living residents of Texas the practice of painless dentistry involved heavy doses of alcohol if the patient was lucky enough to find a dentist in the first place.

At the time morphine began to be used in dentistry dosage limits for drugs had not as yet been established and there was no regulating agency of government to act as the Food and Drug Administration does today. In those days it was not uncommon for a person to die from an overdose of the drug since no one was very good at determining how much pain killer to use.

A little bit of trivia for consideration: Zane Grey author of Riders of The Purple Sage and other dime novels which created much of the legend of the old West, was a dentist from Ohio who traveled to the western territory for adventure. Modern day dentists in San Antonio bare little resemblance to Zane Grey. Although the romance of the old West is a subject for the history books it is easy to love modern painless family dentistry.

Compared to older times the use of local anesthesia and the mouth numbing needle was a miracle of it's time. Today the needle may not even be necessary if the family dentist is one who practices laser drilling techniques. Lasers, first introduced to dentistry in the 1960's, are used today in at least 17 separate dentistry functions including removal of cavities, since being approved in 1995 for general use on adults. When lasers are used anesthetic is usually not necessary.

If lasers are not in use your family dentist might still be able to make the whole process including the necessary injections easier to take if nitrous oxide is used first. Nitrous oxide, better known as laughing gas, may be breathed through a mask. Its use can make the rest of the dental experience far less stressful. When more involved dental procedures are necessary there are sedation options available. Conscious sedation is an option for crowns, extractions or root canals which can be very painful. This is a state in which the patient can take directions of and respond to the dentist but feels very little of the procedure.

Another option in painless dentistry is full sedation or general anesthetic as a patient would have for traditional surgeries. This would probably only be used for lengthy procedures. If painless approaches still don't eliminate dental fears, it may be time to consider the many methods that a prospective dentist uses to help calm patient nerves. Comfortable and entertaining waiting rooms are available which distract and sooth.

From ipod to cable TV many dentists have made great strides while others still rely on brochures and magazines in the waiting room. Some dentists have begun to utilize relaxation techniques and furnishings in an effort to relieve patient anxiety.

Painless family dentistry in San Antonio or any where else can make a dental appointment a visit to a family friend rather than a feared ordeal.