Overview
Statistics show that roughly 15% of Americans suffer from dental anxiety. It is more serious than just a pair of sweaty palms – it’s a paralyzing fear of dentists or dental treatment. Eventually there comes a point where you will need to cope with your dental phobia. Modern dentistry offers what is called Sedation Dentistry. By definition, sedation dentistry is the use of pharmacological agents to calm and relax the patient prior to and during a dental appointment. It serves to ease the patients with dental anxiety so that they can continue their routine dental care.
This is where sedation dentistry can help.
Sedation Dentistry is the use of a Sedative drug to keep a patient calm throughout a dental procedure. Many patients do not need a sedatives to remain calm during dental appointments. Others will need “Sedation” for all dental procedures including dental cleanings.
Airway Dentistry
There have been some very interesting changes happening to human beings over the past several hundred years. Thanks to the research of Dr. Weston Price, we have learned that the longest-lived societies on the planet had the best teeth, with broad, fully developed jaws, perfectly straight teeth, and little tooth decay and gum disease. As Dr. Price delved deeper into his research, he learned that the reason these populations had such wonderful oral health compared to the modern populations was due to diet and changes in oral structure over the passing generations. Modern society has an increasing number of people experiencing tooth decay, gum disease, crooked teeth, higher rates of cancer, heart attack, diabetes, and other diseases. We are no longer eating the diet of our ancestors, rich in minerals and fat-soluble vitamins, and devoid of highly processed foods.
History
There have been some very interesting changes happening to human beings over the past several hundred years. Thanks to the research of Dr. Weston Price, we have learned that the longest-lived societies on the planet had the best teeth, with broad, fully developed jaws, perfectly straight teeth, and little tooth decay and gum disease. As Dr. Price delved deeper into his research, he learned that the reason these populations had such wonderful oral health compared to the modern populations was due to diet and changes in oral structure over the passing generations. Modern society has an increasing number of people experiencing tooth decay, gum disease, crooked teeth, higher rates of cancer, heart attack, diabetes, and other diseases. We are no longer eating the diet of our ancestors, rich in minerals and fat-soluble vitamins, and devoid of highly processed foods.
Braces, retainers, wisdom teeth extractions, crowded teeth, malocclusion, jaw pain, sleep apnea, and tooth decay are all extremely common in today’s society. Initially it was blamed on genetics, but how is that possible when our ancestors did not experience the same conditions? More recent evidence points to changes in agriculture, sedentary lifestyle, industrialization, and cultural norm. Over the years, the human diet has softened. With the invention of things like processed foods, pouches for kids, and protein shakes – less chewing is needed to acquire adequate nutrition. Another contributing factor is a change in oral posture. Oral development largely depends on oral posture – the tongue resting on the roof of the mouth helps to shape the oral cavity. Through these changes over time, humans are now prone to underdevelopment of oral structures and consequently – airways.
“I am deeply interested not only in your health individually but in the efficiency and welfare of your families. It is particularly important in these times of industrial and financial stress, that children shall not suffer defects which may mark and handicap them for their entire life.”
-Dr. Weston Price