Before undergoing dental treatment or cosmetic dentistry the first concern is selecting a great dentist who can diagnose all problems and understand all aspirations. A dentist performs a series of evaluations, diagnosis, prevention and remedies for tooth and gum related ailments. Teeth can be used as an indicator of the overall health of a person. They need to be kept in impeccable health.

There are numerous illnesses your teeth can have. Your teeth can be chipped or decayed. Unhealthy teeth can result in endless aches and can distort the shape of your face. Dentists fundamental objective is to keep the dental health of their patients by providing advice regarding teeth hygiene, treatments of existing problems and ways to prevent future teeth issues.

Dental treatment involves surgery, preventive medication and education. While surgery tries to treat dental cavities, prevention is a continuous process of following hygienic practices and preventive medications. Cosmetic dental treatment involves solutions to various defects in the teeth, jaws supportive bones etc. Whether you are seeking cosmetic dentistry or general dentistry, the dentist needs to be very proficient and experienced in his job.

Most dentists become eligible for private practice only after completing dental school and completing several years of internship under an experienced dentist.

Apart from dental specialties like orthodontists, prosthodontists, periodontist, endodontists etc, some other specialties like dental anesthesiology, special needs dentistry, forensic odontology, sedation dentistry and geriatric dentistry are commonly applied to meet specific needs of individual customers. Likewise, cosmetic dentistry also has several specialties and cosmetic dentists also follow rigorous education and practice before venturing on their own.

The experience, professional knowledge and educational qualification help to define how good a dentist is. Make sure the dentist you chose has a lot of education and experience. Make sure that you feel comfortable and confident talking with your dentist. Trusting you dentist is important, you want to know that they are looking out for your best interests and making recommendations that take into account you needs and limitations. In order to find a good dentist, you need to evaluate the expertise of several and take professional advice from patients with past experience before selecting your dentist.

Most people that have a fear of the dentist have an averse reaction to the smell sights and sounds of the office. Many people that have a this phobia cringe at the smell of dental procedures. If you are one of these individuals relax the smell is gone (in most new dental offices) The smell of the dental office really no longer exists. However, some smell of antiseptic can occasionally be unavoidable. So take into account the overall atmosphere of the place.

You can judge if an office is phobic friendly if all instruments are out of plain sight. As much of it as possible should be hidden away, and only taken out as needed. A cluttered environment and instruments scattered about is not a good sign for any work environment.

Even the layout of a dental office can lend itself to being more phobic friendly. Does the place look clean (but not “sterile”)? Is there a cheerful energy or just not scary. What’s the overall “feel” of the place? Of course, the people who work there make the most impact. Your dentist can make all the difference in changing the overall atmosphere, but if the treatment room doesn’t look clean and organized this can be a bad indicator.

If you have an adverse reaction to the sight of instruments being placed in your mouth, try simply closing your eyes. On the other hand, there are people who like to see exactly what is going on, in which case you can ask your dentist to show you what’s going on with the help of mirrors.

The Sounds
Not sure anyone out there really likes the sounds when you are in the dental chair but if you haven’t been to a dentist in a long time, it might be a comfort to know that they’re not quite as noisy as they used to be. Also, keep in mind that when you hear noise coming from instruments placed in your mouth, your mouth acts like an amplifier and it sounds much louder than it actually is. Your dentist should always demonstrate any instrument that makes a noise to you first, so that you know what it sounds like “in reality”.

Sounds are subjective experiences. We are all aware of how your voice sounds totally different if you cover your ears while speaking. The best solution to muffle the sounds of the dentist chair remains the i-pod. Make sure the music that you are listening to is relaxing and comforting.

I recently took a trip to the store in Atlanta to stock up on supplies among which was dental supplies. I was surprised by the shear number of tooth pastes, mouthwash, floss and tooth brushes. I figured mouthwash is one of the simplest ways to improve your oral hygiene and reduce bad news from the dentist. With so many different mouthwash brands and so many hygiene issues which each claim to resolve which is the right one? Anti plaque mouthwash, I thought would be the best way to fight the bacteria that causes cavities. Fluoride is one of the main ingredients in anti plaque rinse. Anti-cavity rinse with fluoride has been proven to reduce the bacteria that causes cavities by 50%. Most over the counter anti plaque mouth rinse however only helps prevent gum disease and tooth decay slightly more than rinsing with water. Bad breath is reduced by antiseptic mouthwash and it freshen breath for hours after use however prescription-only is the most effective rinse that your dentist can prescribe. These rinses have been proven to reduce the bacteria that causes plaque and cavities. Prescription mouth rinse can have side effects. A rinse with alcohol can give a burning sensation in your cheeks and gums. Too much fluoride can cause mouth ulcers, sensitivity to teeth and roots, stained teeth or a change to your taste sensation. Mouth rinse with fluoride is not recommended for children under the age of 6.

I developed a fear of the dentist while in college. Because of a shoe string budget I made a decision to go to the dental college when I needed a root canal. This was one of those decisions in your life where you wish you had a “bad idea elf” that would sit on your shoulder and slap you when you were about to make a horrible decision. The procedure lasted 3 visits of 4 hours each trip. My girl friend at the time would drop me off and pick me up after each dental treatment. Each time she picked me up I was soaking wet because I had sweat through my clothes. My fear stems from the pain that I experienced and also the lack of control that I felt with the rubber dam in my mouth not knowing how long the procedure would last. I have had a fear of the dentist ever since. Many people have had a traumatic experience and as a result have developed a fear of the dentist. There are many things that can be done to minimize this phobia. The first and easiest is just to say to your dentist “I have a low pain threshold and would like to know what can be done to make me more comfortable.” You have to be assertive to ensure you will feel comfortable. I always ask the dentist for some breaks during a procedure as well. This will help you to feel more in control and less fearful. Make sure that you have something to distract you. I bring my ipod to my dentist so I can’t hear the sounds. Most dentists have a tv that you can watch or just some peaceful scene playing on a computer. Try relaxation techniques like deep breathing and controlled breathing. This will help lower your heart rate and ease muscle tension. Ask your dentist what methods of sedation or available. There are 3 different types of sedation that can be used. Nitrous Oxide, IV sedation and oral sedation. Have a discussion with your dentist to figure out which type of sedation is right for you.

These days the benefits of Sedation Dentistry are no secret however many people wonder if it is right for them. If you are someone that suffers from any of the following symptoms then you may be a candidate for sedation dentistry.

* Severe anxiety of dental treatment
* Traumatic dental experiences in your past
* Novocaine causes an adverse reaction.
* Problem keeping mouth open for long periods or sensitive gag reflex.
* Extremely sensitive teeth
* Never enough time for dental procedures
* In need of complex dental treatment like oral surgery
* Self conscious about your teeth
* Procrastinate going to the dentist
* Have not received dental treatment in years
* Dental pain and constant problems
* Anxious in the dental chair

If you answered yes to any of these qualifying questions the next question you may have is, how does sedation dentistry work?

There are many forms of Sedation dentistry. The use of nitrous oxide, or laughing gas is referred to as Conscious sedation.
Oral sedation which involves ingesting a pill to help control anxiety. IV Sedation Patients receive sedative drugs that are monitored throughout the dental treatment. These controlled drugs create a relaxed state. You are comfortable and completely relaxed throughout the procedure with sedation dentistry. It is this relaxed controlled state that allows patients to complete multiple and complex procedures in one appointment.

With IV Sedation an IV is started by the anesthesiologist. You will not remember or be aware of any procedures. You breathe on your own so it is different from the hospital anesthesia where a machine breathes for you.

What are the facts about sedation dentistry?:

* Sedation dentistry is a safe way have extended dental treatment that normally would require multiple visits.
* You relax through your dental appointment and feel rested after.
* Little or no memory of the treatment.
* You can relax for up to five to six hours after the IV sedation (or the anti-anxiety pill if you choose). The time you are relaxing will vary depending on your needed treatment and type of anesthesia delivered.

Hippocrates studied teeth and their maladies.

The “patron saint of dentistry” is St. Appollonia.

All teeth have five sides, and brushing alone only reaches three of those sides. Only flossing can reach all sides.

The best way to lower the cost of dental care is to come in for regular dental visits.

Thanks to today’s dentistry options, your own teeth can and should last a lifetime.