New D.O.C.S. therapy relieves patients of dental fear factor.

"I was so afraid of the pain of fixing my teeth, and of all the long visits that it would have taken to fix them, that I was willing to lose them and have dentures," said one patient.

"At some point in my life I developed a tremendous fear of going to the dentist," said another. "I didn't want my teeth touched--my heart raced at the thought of it."

"For 20 years I didn't go to the dentist," echoes another. "I ended up with a mouth full of cavities and swollen gums. Eating, talking and of course, smiling, were difficult. My pain, embarrassment and discouragement affected me both at home and at work."

These people are not alone. In fact, according to the latest statistics, nearly one-third of all Americans choose to risk their health rather than visit a dentist.

When people don't go to the dentist, they chance more than a bad smile. Taking care of teeth and gums is extremely important for everybody's overall health. But being afraid is understandable, especially if they have had a bad or painful experience That's why sedation dentistry is such an exciting powerful tool.

Thanks to modern medicine, the anxiety caused by the mere thought of going to the dentist is rapidly becoming a thing of the past. For instance, at Dental Plus+ many of our dentists and support staff are trained by the Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation (DOCS) to provide oral sedation dentistry. DOCS is an international organization dedicated to improving the lives of patients, dentists and dental team members by advancing the awareness and delivery of oral sedation dentistry.

DOCS and its members attempt to educate potential patients that a visit to the dentist's office can actually be a relaxing experience. During an initial consultation, each potential oral sedation patient must first fill out a complete medical history form, and the patient's questions are answered. Patients undergoing sedation therapy are asked to arrive at the dentist's office one hour before their treatment appointment. Then they are given a commonly-used sedative in pill form, and after becoming drowsy and relaxed, they are escorted into a "comfort room" and seated in a lounge-like dentist's chair. No intravenous tubes or needles are required for sedation.

The patients then are covered with a warm blanket and given massage and heat pillows. A monitor is used to watch the patient's vital signs while the DOCS dentistry, team completes the dental treatment, whether it is to restore sore gums to good health, fix a chipped tooth, replace crowns or fillings, whiten yellow and stained teeth, or solve other dental problems. Patients undergoing sedation therapy bring along a companion who can drive them home after the treatment.

DOCS really works. Patients literally can sleep through their dental appointment. They will have little or no memory of the experience, and will sleep from one to six hours after taking the sedative, depending on the complexity of the treatment prescribed. It may even eliminate the problem some people have of getting numb.

When the treatment is completed, our patients wake up completely rested, ready to return home with their companion to finish the relaxing experience.

This relatively new treatment (DOCS began providing the specialized training to dentists approximately four years ago) is rapidly gaining in popularity. At Dental Plus+ alone we have administered the therapy to more than 400 patients since we began offering the service nearly two years ago.

When I recently recommended sedation therapy to Barbara S., a local resident, she was skeptical that it would really work. "But I tried it and it is the best thing that has ever happened to me. All my life I have dreaded going to the dentist and would put it off as long as possible because of the fear of pain," she said. "I never knew if the novocaine injections would work or not. Even the cold water and air being sprayed into my mouth made me nervous because if it hit a sensitive spot it would cause pain. I literally would be shaking. I would be so very nervous even to have my teeth examined."

However, when her crown came off and a tooth broke she couldn't avoid the inevitable. She came to Dental Plus+ after she had visited a "very nice dentist" who was unable to numb her mouth after two hours of novocaine shots. That doctor advised her to find a place where she could be put to sleep, like Dental Plus+.

"In a few months I have had more my needed dental work done than I have had in years, and all without pain," she said. "I had a root canal, crown lengthening, four-tooth bridge, three crown replacements and my teeth whitened. I feel so much better now that my teeth are repaired, and I know that if I need more procedures I don't have to put them off. Because of Dental Plus+ and DOCS, I'm not afraid anymore."

Adds Adriana C., another local resident, who hadn't visited a dentist since she was a young girl, "DOCS is the best thing that ever happened to dentistry."

D.O.C.S. FAQs

Q. Will I feel discomfort?

A. No, you will be relaxed when you take the sedation pill, usually placed under the tongue.

Q. Will I be unconscious?

A. No. You are in a state of light conscious sedation; you are responsive to verbal directions and can communicate with us if needed.

Q. Will I be monitored?

A. Yes, one of our team members is always with you and your vital signs are monitored during the entire visit, including blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen saturation.

Q. How long will I be sedated?

A. That depends entirely on your dental treatment needs, but generally sedation lasts from one to six hours.

Q. Will someone need to accompany me?

A. Yes, you will need someone to accompany you due to the sedative effects of the sleeping pill.

Q. Is it safe?

A. Yes. The oral medication we use is a commonly prescribed sleeping pill. Thousands of these pills have been safely administered in dental offices throughout the country, as well as by doctors.

Q. Does it matter how much time has elapsed since my last visit to the dentist?

A. No. When you are under sedation therapy, we can repair years of dental problems in just a few visits. We can replace crowns, restore sore gums to good health, perform root canal therapy, whiten yellow and stained teeth, fix a chipped tooth, and more.

Q. Who is a candidate for DOCS?

A. People who are afraid to go to the dentist, have had traumatic dental experiences, have difficulty getting numb, experience a bad gag reflex, have complex dental problems or have limited time to take care of their dental needs can benefit from DOCS. Also, anyone who hates needles and shots, dislikes the noises, smells and tastes associated with dental care, or who is afraid or embarrassed about their teeth may be eligible for sedation therapy.

Dr. Leon D. Roisman is a Trained Oral Sedation Therapy Dentist with the Dental+ Dental Group in Pasadena California. He began practicing dentistry 37 years ago and established what is now Dental Plus+ Dental Group in Pasadena in 1972. For more information, please call [phone].