Examples of pain management include administration of local anesthesia, general anesthesia, and conscious sedation such as nitrous oxide and intravenous sedation, all of which keep the patient comfortable during the procedure. However, pain control does not end once the procedure is completed. We take care to ensure all patients are comfortable and pain free during the recovery period, especially after invasive procedures.

The availability and variety of pain medications has significantly improved the ability to manage postoperative pain in dentistry. The traditional approach involved prescribing narcotic analgesics for moderate to severe post-operative pain. Narcotic analgesics act on the Central Nervous System to block pain receptors.

Our pain management strategy for you will be unique, and custom tailored for your individual needs. What combination is ultimately prescribed for you will depend upon your bodys response to these drugs, your current medical history, current medications, as well as other related factors as determined by your Dentist. Our safer and most effective pain management approach uses the combination of both non-narcotic and narcotic medications vs. either medication used alone. Examples of combination agents include

The reason combining narcotics and non-narcotics is so effective, is because it handles pain relief in different ways. Narcotic opioids are extremely useful in management of pain, but side effects such as drowsiness, nausea, constipation, and dependence with prolonged use, make exclusive use of opioids less desirable. Inflammation (associated with early healing) is the source of pain, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs) for acute pain relief such as Ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil) and Naproxen (Aleve) have been very effective in acute pain management because they block the source of pain with minimal side effects.

The reason combining narcotics and non-narcotics is safer, is because it helps reduce dosages over time, and limits your exposure to a single type of drug over time. It has been shown that narcotics use for a prolonged period of time results in a tolerance to medication, which creates the need for a prolonged use and larger dose. Narcotics consumed in this way become habit-forming, leading to mental or physical dependence. Although not habit-forming, Acetaminophen should be used with caution because larger dosage may cause liver damage.

It is natural to feel anxiety about the possibility of pain, but we proactively take steps to reduce your anxiety and make your overall experience as painless as possible. Our approach to dentistry takes patient comfort beyond the scope of the treatments at hand, and extends our concerns to the tranquility of every patients experience in our dental chair, and their comfort once they get out of it. It is important for you to speak with us about your concerns about pain, and to understand our approach for addressing your concerns.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends dental devices for patients with mild-to-moderate obstructive sleep apnea who are not appropriate candidates for CPAP or who have not been helped by it.