What to Expect Before and After Dental Sedation

Dental sedation has allowed countless patients who previously avoided the dentist out of anxiety to get the treatments they need. Sedation also allows your dentist to combine multiple treatments into a single appointment, saving you time and money. There are multiple forms of dental sedation, from mild nitrous oxide—better known as laughing gas—to deep IV sedation. Your dentist will help you select the best kind of sedation for your needs. Here is a closer look at what you can expect before and after your sedation dentistry appointment.  

Before Sedation 

Your dentist will provide you with instructions for preparing for sedation. It is important to follow them closely, as failing to so could lead to your appointment being rescheduled. In some cases, it is not necessary to do anything other than arriving at your appointment. This is the case for nitrous oxide. For other kinds of sedation, you may need to avoid eating within six hours of your appointment and drinking for two hours before your appointment. If you are taking an oral sedative, you will need to take the pill at the time requested by your dentist, to make sure the sedation is in effect for your appointment. Before your sedation dentistry appointment, you should also arrange for someone to take you to your appointment and drive you home afterward.  

After Sedation 

With some forms of sedation, such as nitrous oxide and intramuscular injections, the effects wear off quickly. However, other forms of sedation will leave you feeling tired and groggy for a few hours afterward. It is recommended to take the remainder of the day off to relax at home while the sedative wears off. All forms of sedation can cause headaches and nausea, but these symptoms are typically mild and clear up quickly.  

Could sedation dentistry be right for you? The best way to find out is to schedule a consultation with Park 56 Dental. You can make an appointment at our dental office in NYC by calling (646) 783–3529.  

What Kind of Filling Is Right for You?

If you have a cavity, one of the facets of your treatment plan that your dentist will review with you is the material used for your filling. Gold, porcelain, and composite are all common options for dental fillings, and now, ceramic and plastic materials that look like your natural teeth are also popular choices. When choosing the right material for your filling, your dentist will discuss several factors with you.  

One important consideration is how much of the tooth will need to be filled. If the filling is large, a natural-looking filling material is often preferred. The location of the tooth also matters. Teeth in the back of your mouth that are less visible may be better suited to fillings that don’t mimic the appearance of natural teeth than those in the front of the mouth. The chew load of the tooth is also a consideration, as are your personal preferences.  

At Park 56 Dental, we specialize in providing patients with high-quality dental care that helps them look and feel their best. If you need a dental filling in NYC, you can make an appointment by calling (646) 783–3529.  

What Is a Sinus Toothache?

Toothaches are extremely painful and can make it difficult to focus on your everyday tasks. What you may not realize is that toothache pain is not always caused by your tooth. In some cases, when you visit your dentist about tooth pain, he or she may refer you to your doctor instead because your sinuses are causing your toothache. 

Watch this video to learn more about sinus-related toothaches. Sinus infections can cause referred pain that seems like a toothache but can actually be relieved by treating the infection instead of focusing on dental treatments.  

At Park 56 Dental, our top dentist in NYC can help you get fast relief from tooth pain by diagnosing the root cause. Make an appointment at our dental clinic by dialing (646) 783–3529.  

Exploring Common Reasons for Root Canals

If your dentist tells you that you need a root canal, chances are that you’ll have many questions about what to expect, starting with why you need one in the first place. There are a number of different reasons to perform a root canal, but in each case, root canals allow natural teeth to be saved rather than extracted. Keeping your natural teeth is healthier than relying on dental implants and other restorations. Here is a closer look at some of the common reasons dentists perform root canals for their patients.  

Tooth Decay 

In the case of a small area of tooth decay, your dentist may remove the decay and perform a filling. However, when the area of decay becomes large and infects deep parts of the tooth, a root canal is usually necessary. During a root canal, the bacteria causing the decay are cleaned from the inside of the tooth, and the tooth is sealed and capped. This prevents the need for removing the infected tooth and stops the infection from spreading throughout the mouth.  

Repeated Procedures 

If a tooth is treated for a cavity on multiple occasions, it is often necessary to perform a root canal. Repeated procedures will eventually lead to a significant amount of the tooth being removed, but a root canal and crown can stop the repeated infections and rebuild the structure of the tooth.  

Cracks or Chips 

When a tooth is injured, the pulp may become damaged or inflamed. In addition to causing pain, the damage to the surface of the tooth leaves it more vulnerable to infections. A root canal can remove inflamed pulp and protect the tooth surface to prevent further damage.  

Your dentist at Park 56 Dental will be happy to answer all of your questions about root canal treatment and why it is the right choice for you. For all of your dental care needs, from root canals to dental cleanings in NYC, call us for an appointment at (646) 783–3529.  

Common Reasons for Emergency Dental Care

Experiencing a dental emergency can be stressful, but at Park 56 Dental, we’re available to help you get out of pain with the emergency treatment you need around the clock. We always have a doctor on-call to help with a dental emergency, and we can tell you whether you can manage care on your own until normal office hours or if you need to meet us right away for treatment. Keep in mind that you should call 911 if you can’t reach us and have experienced a significant injury. Here are some of the most common dental emergencies we deal with at our office.  

Knocked Out Tooth 

Having a permanent tooth knocked out may cause you to panic, and it certainly qualifies as a dental emergency. If your tooth is knocked out, pick up the tooth, if possible. Be sure to grab it by the crown without touching the roots, which could damage them. Rinse it off, and if you can, put it back in the socket. If you can’t, keep it between your gum and cheek or in milk or water. The sooner you see your dentist after a tooth is knocked out, the better your odds of reattaching it will be.  

Severe Toothache 

A toothache is almost always the sign of a serious problem. While a moderate toothache can be addressed during office hours, a severe toothache is an emergency. Severe pain could be the sign of an abscess, which can release a dangerous infection into your body, so seek emergency dental care if you’re dealing with a strong toothache.  

Broken Jaw 

A broken jaw is a serious injury that needs immediate attention. In some cases, your dentist may be able to treat your break by using a bandage to hold the jaw in alignment. In other cases, he or she may recommend surgery. Get emergency dental care right away so that the injury doesn’t get worse.  

Park 56 Dental provides care for your emergencies around the clock, so call our dentist office in NYC when you have an urgent need. Dial (646) 783-3529 for more information.