Because countless numbers of people suffer from dental anxiety or have a phobia of going to the dentist, many dentists are now offering sedation dentist DC.  Sedation dentistry consists of an IV, injection or gas mask – laughing gas – which used individually will help a dental patient to relax and calmly allow the dentist and their assistants do what needs to be done in order to correct any dental problems or perform cosmetic dental procedures. 

 

According to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, the number of cosmetic dental procedures increased 10.9 percent in 2007 and was a $2.75 billion business in 2008.  This is a somewhat sad statistic because for every individual who goes to the dentist for a cosmetic procedure, there are between nine and 15 percent of the population that do not seek dental care of any form.

 

Not only is it important to seek a dental checkup at least twice, perhaps once a year for good oral hygiene, it could be very important to a persons overall well being and health. Dentists are trained to spot things like diabetes and other potential life threatening diseases during a patients regular oral tooth examination.

 

Many dentists are now using lasers in order to help lessen the pain and discomfort associated with several of the dental procedures that used to require a drill. A laser can be used to make incisions, gum treatments and preparing a tooth for a filling for a cavity. A laser also eliminates the need for local anesthetic.

 

As more and more procedures are approved to use lasers, by the Food and Drug Administration – FDA, more and more DC dentists and dentists from across the country will be using them. Just recently the FDA approved using a laser as a disinfectant during root canal procedures. Instead of using bleach for up to 30 minutes to kill bacteria, a laser kills 99.7 percent of bacteria in a matter of minutes. Something that used to take 20 or 30 minutes and was very uncomfortable for the patient is now finished in a matter of 2 or 3 minutes with less discomfort and better results.