Painless Dentistry

Technological Advancements for Painless Dentistry

Anxiety and fear of pain can stop you from receiving the treatments you need to maintain your oral health. At Periodontal Associates, LLC, Dr. Strauss incorporates several advanced tools to minimize patient discomfort during treatment.

Extractions Achieve Immediate & Lasting Benefits
Gum disease is a progressive and harmful condition. If left untreated by a professional, gum disease can eventually lead to tooth loss and bone loss. At Periodontal Associates, LLC, we specialize in periodontal care. We can perform scaling and root planing to target stubborn plaque and restore your gums to good health.

Improved Comfort
A broken or badly decayed tooth can be extremely painful, so an extraction can provide immediate relief.

Room For Movement
In some cases, tooth extraction can help address an overcrowded smile prior to orthodontic treatment.

Prevent Additional Issues
Leaving a damaged tooth untreated can create a cascade of harmful effects on surrounding bone and soft tissue.

Nitrous Oxide
Nitrous oxide, also known as “laughing gas” is a compound of nitrogen and oxygen. Patients inhale nitrous oxide through a mask placed over the nose. When you received nitrous oxide, you will be unaware of what is happening, but capable of responding to the doctor’s commands. Some patients report feelings of euphoria or giddiness. The effects of nitrous oxide wear off quickly after procedures, and many patients are able to drive themselves home safely. This type of sedation is often combined with a local anesthetic to ensure optimum patient comfort.

Nitrous oxide—or laughing gas—induces a “twilight sleep” where patients are unaware of what is happening but are still able to respond to the doctor’s instructions.

Dentalvibe Injection Comfort System For Novocain
Many dental procedure require a local anesthetic to numb the soft and hard tissues within the mouth. These injections cause many patients to feel anxiety. Dr. Patil uses the DentalVibe system to ensure maximum patient comfort. When DentalVibe is used, many patients report no feelings of discomfort from the injection. DentalVibe also helps to disperse the anesthetic more quickly, allowing Dr. Patil to begin your procedure more quickly and minimizing the amount of time you spend in the dentist chair.

IV Sedation
IV sedation is delivered through a tiny needle that is placed either in your hand or your inner elbow. Many patients prefer this type of sedation because it takes effect very quickly. You will be extremely relaxed, and may be unaware of activities going on around you, but you will still be able to respond to verbal instructions from Dr. Patil and our team. Many patients do not remember their dental procedure the following day.

The Wand
The Wand® is a computer-controlled system used for the delivery of a local anesthetic. It offers many advantages for our patients, the greatest of which is that it is significantly more comfortable than a standard syringe. The amount of anesthetic and the target to which it is delivered is precisely controlled. Only the area where the procedure is performed will be numb, allowing patients to avoid the inconvenience of returning to work or other activities with a numb face. The Wand is a more efficient use of your time, as procedures can be performed on both sides of your mouth in only one appointment.

Anutra
Another advanced tool Dr. Patil uses to increase patient comfort is the Anutra buffering system. Buffering is a method by which the pH, or acidity, of your local anesthetic can be adjusted to work better in your body. Patients feel no burning sensation when an anesthetic is delivered, and in many cases, report not feeling anything at all. The anesthetic is also more efficient and predictable. Instead of requiring up to 15 minutes for a local anesthetic to take effect, the numbing effect is virtually instantaneous. Procedures can be performed more quickly, allowing patients more time for the other activities in their day.