The Hygienists Dr. Smith takes great pride in his hygiene department. It is a very personal relationship between the patient and the hygienist, especially for our patients that do not love going to the dentist. These five women, Lisa, Bobette, Aong, Ashley and Kathy have a professionalism and passion for their work that is unmatched. And like everyone that works at Smith Sedation Dentistry, they are committed to always making sure that you are comfortable and relaxed.
Sedation Coordinator Melissa hates going to dentist as much as any of Dr. Smith's sedation patients so she is perfect for talking to patients about sedation dentistry. She has a very warm and comfortable way of talking to people about their fears and helping them get over them. So if you are scared of the dentist and just want to talk to someone who can make you feel better, call and ask for her. She really can help .
Dental Assistants Our team of dental assistants consists of Rosa, Nicole, Desiree, Charlyn, Cassie and Tracie. This group of ladies is dedicated to keeping you as comfortable as possible. All of them are excellent care givers and will make your visit as calm as possible.
Extended Functions Assistant Joni Biggerstaff is basically like a nurse practitioner for dentists. She has taken over 800 hours of training to help Dr. Smith with many of his procedures. Joni specializes in dentures and fillings. She has a very caring manner that soothes anxious patients.
Nurse Anesthetist Heather has been performing general anesthesia and conscious sedation for over 30 years. Her focus is on special needs patients, patients with substance abuse issues, and medically compromised patients. She is an expert in her field and we are very lucky to have her.
Dr. Smith realizes that there are many different procedures that require many different levels of sedation. Many patients will use one type of sedation for one procedure and a different type of sedation for another. This is why it is so important to explain everything in the initial visit. That way we make sure that the patient is properly relaxed and prepared for everything we are doing. Here are the different ways that each type of sedation in administered.
This is a mild form of sedation that makes the patient feel as though they had a couple glasses of wine during the procedure. Every operatory is equipped with a simple hookup for nitrous oxide, even the hygiene rooms. The patient merely breathes the gas to get the desired effect. The level of the gas is easily adjusted to make the patient as comfortable as possible. After the procedure, there is no lingering after effect. The patient is able to legally drive home making this a very convenient and popular form of sedation.
The patient will usually take a pill about an hour before the procedure to get them into a relaxed state. They come back to the dental chair and they are greeted by warm blankets. Dr. Montgomery or Dr. Son are both experienced anesthesiologists who are here to take care of you and make sure you are completely safe. They will call you before the procedure to check your medical history and to figure out what drugs will work best in your situation. There are many advantages to having an anesthesiologist. Not only are they highly qualified to keep you safe, but they also have the ability to choose drugs that will reduce post operative issues such as nausea and sickness. After your procedure, both Dr. Smith and the anesthesiologist will call you to answer any questions and make sure you are doing well.
Although Dr. Smith does not use this option often, there are been some patients who require a hospital environment to have their dental work done. Dr. Smith has privileges at the Northpoint Surgery Center for those patients that require general anesthesia for their dental work. Here they are intubated and put under general anesthesia by an anesthesiologist. Dr. Smith performs the needed dental work right there in the operating room.
In Fresno, there are only a few dentists who are licensed to perform Intravenous Sedation. The training and licensing required to do IV sedation are extensive, so most dentists who advertise Sedation Dentistry are only using a pill to mildly sedate or relax people.