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Is Sedation Dentistry Safe During Pregnancy?

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While pregnancy can bring many moments of joy, it can also cause a lot of stress, particularly when it comes to the safety of the baby and mother. Pregnancy can also cause the mother to experience certain dental issues such as swollen gums, bleeding, or gum irritation because of the rise in hormone levels. Many experts recommend expecting mothers to take great care of their dental health an get some preventive work when the first signs of trouble appear. But when things go wrong, and the expecting mother requires dental procedures that need sedation , the question begs: is it safe for the baby? Experts Say There Is Generally No Need to Worry According to the American Dental Association , there is generally no need to worry about the local anesthetics used during various procedures like fillings, root canals, or teeth removal. The Journal of the American Dental Association published a study in which they discovered that sedation substances like lidocaine shots used for

Finding the “Sweet Spot” in Dental Sedation

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Though you’ve probably heard of dental sedation , you may not know some specific details surrounding it. One of the most crucial of them is dosage. If your dentist gives you too little or too much medication, you won’t be as satisfied with the service at the end of the appointment. We explain why and provide some tips on avoiding this trap in the sections below. The Dangers of Too Little Sedative There are many excellent reasons to explore dental sedation. Among the most common are anxiety , low pain tolerance, and lengthy procedures. Whatever your issue is, you need an ample amount of medication to receive all of the sedation benefits that you seek. The following are some of the consequences associated with too little sedative. Pain - One of the best reason to use sedation is to lessen pain. Unfortunately, a dose that is too small will not give you this benefit. You’ll instead feel almost as much discomfort as you would without the medication. Fear - Another reason people us

Will My Insurance Cover Sedation Dentistry?

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People that are excited to go to the dentist are like unicorns: some claim that they exist, but no one has seen one in real life. And, understandably so. What can be so exciting about having to sit for hours on end in an uncomfortable position while someone uses scary-looking utensils to fix your teeth? Add fear into the mix or a lightheaded feeling whenever you see a needle, and you can see why so many people postpone going to the dentist as long as possible. That’s where sedation dentistry can be of great help. Whether it's minimal, moderate, deep or general anesthesia , sedation can help you get the treatment you need if you are afraid of the dentist or have to sit for long hours through complex procedures. Talk with your St. Louis sedation dentist to determine which course of treatment best suits your needs. However, here's a good question: does your insurance cover sedation dentistry or do you have to pay out of your pocket? Types of Sedation Dentistry Before

Do Lip and Tongue Piercings Damage Teeth?

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When it comes to showing your affinity for a sub-culture, piercings and tattoos are among the strongest statements one can make. Not to mention, they often give a person a boost of self-confidence. Unfortunately, tattoos or piercings can go wrong, especially if the person who does the operation is inexperienced, hygiene norms are not followed or the person getting them doesn’t care for them well enough. When it comes to piercings, they are even less well taken by the body, even if the procedure is done correctly and the maintenance is perfect. What Are the Side Effects of Lip and Tongue Piercings? Opinions are very different when it comes to oral piercings and the harm they can do. Most people think that tongue and lip piercings are bad for your teeth and gums. But is it a myth or a reality? We have researched medical evidence and statement to gather enough information on this subject. Here is what we found out. Having a lip or tongue piercing can

3 Reasons You May Want to Replace Your Child's Sippy Cup

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Sippy cups are a great way of introducing water in your infant's diet, helping them transition smoothly from the baby bottle or exclusive breastfeeding. Many parents are delighted with the convenience of giving liquids in a sippy cup. Not only that children usually accept them quickly, but they also don't spill easily. Not to mention, sippy cups look cute and colorful. But, according to dentists, this type of cups should come with a warning sign. They can cause so much damage to your child's oral health that you should reconsider the way you use it. Sippy Cups and the Extensive Damage They Can Cause Several ways of using the sippy cup can lead to extensive damages, warn St. Louis pediatric dentists . To make matter worse, parents usually combine these methods, unaware of the dangers sippy cups pose to their kids’ oral health. Most of them are surprised when they find out that the benign cup is to blame for cavities or crooked teeth. Here's how you may be damagin

How to Help Your Child Stop Thumb Sucking

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Thumb sucking is for many children an easy and quick way to comfort themselves when they feel anxious, are bored or tired. It is a habit hard to break. It is so readily available and efficient against various stressful factors that it is difficult to find something else to replace it with and give your kid the same comfort. What parents need to understand about thumb sucking is that it comes from a natural reflex of suckling and it goes away by itself in most cases. The thumb is like a pacifier for infants and toddlers up to 4 years old. They use it whenever they want to be comforted. It is not a big issue, after all, but when it passes a certain age, it starts to become a risk for proper oral development.     What Consequences Can Thumb Sucking Have? You should take your child to a pediatric dentist for a check-up if thumb sucking still happens after the child is five years old. That is when the first permanent teeth start appearing and, from now on, any bad influence

What to Do If Your Children Are Scared of the Dentist

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Just about any parent who has multiple children will tell you that each child is different. One example of this is fear of going to the dentist . While one child may have no issues with this task, another could have a great deal of anxiety about it. If the latter describes your children, here are a few suggestions you may try. Buy a Children’s Book As you might imagine, this problem is not new. As a result, people have written hundreds of excellent children’s books on the subject, each of them ending with a scared child conquering their fear. Reading one with your children will allow them to do two things. First, they will see what a dentist office is, which will give them an accurate idea of what to expect. Second, they can relate to the main character of the book and aspire to go on that same journey of being brave and getting through a dental appointment. Walk Them Through the Process Part of the reason why children are so afraid of medical situations is that they do not und