Patient Info

Tooth loss and damage to the jaw bone and tissues are often challenging during oral surgery or implant placement. Without enough support in the jaw bone, dental implants cannot be immediately stabilized, and tissue healing can be a long process. The solution to these and other difficult situations is a new Platelet Therapy created from your own blood. Leukocyte – Platelet Rich Fibrin (L-PRF) changes all the rules as it promotes healing and bone growth from within your own body. Unlike other treatments that use artificial components, Platelet Therapy with L-PRF uses only your own blood. With a simple blood draw and an advanced technology protocol, L-PRF is individually made for you – from you. The end results are improved healing response and significantly less recovery time.

Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas)
Nitrous Oxide is a sweet-smelling, non-irritating, colorless gas that you can breathe. Nitrous Oxide has been the primary means of sedation in dentistry for many years. Nitrous oxide is safe; the patient receives 50-70% oxygen with no less than 30% nitrous oxide. Patients are able to breathe on their own and remain in control of all bodily functions. The patient may experience mild amnesia and may fall asleep not remembering all of what happened during their appointment.

There are many advantages to using Nitrous Oxide:

• The depth of sedation can be altered at any time to increase or decrease sedation.
• There is no after effect such as a “hangover”.
• Inhalation sedation is safe with no side effects on your heart and lungs, etc.
• Inhalation sedation is very effective in minimizing gagging.
• It works rapidly as it reaches the brain within 20 seconds. In as few as 2-3 minutes its relaxation.

Ketamine, and Propofol. Supplemental oxygen is delivered through a nasal breathing apparatus and the patient’s vital signs are closely monitored.

Your treatment can be completed under intravenous sedation. Intravenous sedation or “IV sedation” (twilight sedation) is designed to better enable you to undergo your dental procedures while you are very relaxed; it will enable you to tolerate as well as not remember those procedures that may be very uncomfortable for you. IV sedation will essentially help alleviate the anxiety associated with your treatment.

You may not always be asleep but you will be comfortable, calm and relaxed, drifting in and out of sleep – a “twilight sleep”. If you choose the option of intravenous sedation your IV sedation/anesthesia is administered and monitored by Dr. Jessen, therefore, eliminating the costly expense of having your treatment carried out in an operating room or same-day surgical facility.

BEFORE INTRAVENOUS ANESTHESIA SEDATION
You may not have anything to eat or drink (including water) for eight hours prior to the appointment. No smoking for at least 12 hours before surgery. Ideally, cut down or stop smoking as soon as possible prior to the day of surgery.

A responsible adult must accompany the patient to the office, remain in the office during the
procedure, and drive the patient home. The patient should not drive a vehicle or operate any machinery for 24 hours following anesthesia. Please wear loose-fitting clothing with short sleeves or sleeves which can be rolled up past the elbow, and low-heeled shoes.

Contact lenses, jewelry, and dentures must be removed at the time of surgery. Do not wear lipstick, excessive makeup, or nail polish on the day of surgery. If you have an illness such as a cold, sore throat, stomach or upset bowels, please notify the office. If you take routine oral medications, please check with Dr. Jessen prior to your surgical date for instructions.

How is the IV Sedation Administered?
A thin needle will be introduced into a vein in your arm or hand. The needle will be attached to anintravenous tube through which medication will be given to help you relax and feel comfortable. At times a patient’s vein may not be maintainable, in these situations the medications will be administered and the needle retrieved – both scenarios will achieve the same desired level of conscious sedation.Once again, some patients may be asleep while others will slip in and out of sleep. Some patients with medical conditions and/or on specific drug regimens may only be lightly sedated and may not sleep at all.

The goal of IV sedation is to use as little medication as possible to get the treatment completed. It is very safe, much safer than oral sedation. With IV sedation a constant “drip” is maintained via the intravenous tube. At any time, an antidote can be administered to reverse the effects of the medications if necessary.

Along with IV sedation, there are also other different “levels” of sedation available to you in our office. There is nitrous oxide analgesia.