(217) 546-3333Sedation Dentistry: What to Know Before Your Procedure
September 4, 2012
The Things You Should Know when Undergoing Sedation Dentistry
The practice of dentistry has long been associated with pain, anxiety and fear. For many years, dental practitioners have been working to develop various approaches to improve patient comfort. They have developed local anesthesia that can virtually remove sensation on the area receiving dental treatment. However, needles and injections still stir fear in some patients. So, how do dentists manage this?
Sedation dentistry became the savior for many patients afraid of dental treatments. With the use of sedative drugs, sedation calms the nervous responses of an apprehensive patient without prompting loss of consciousness. Together with sedation, local anesthesia can produce a relaxing experience for the patients. Most patients come to be unaware of the proceedings of the appointment.
If the patient experiences any disease or illness before the appointment, it is best that the dentist is well informed. There can be medical conditions that may contraindicate the use of sedation 
dentistry. It is very essential that a patient disclose important systemic and medical conditions like pregnancy. The same goes with any medication that the patient may be taking in. The dentist should be well aware of any of these factors as they may affect the safety and efficiency of the sedatives.
After the appointment, the patient should not drive, operate any machines or appliances, drink alcoholic beverages, work or make any important decisions. Your sedation dentist will be able to tell you how long the effects will last.
As always, if there are any questions they should be properly directed to the dentist. Your sedation dentist will address any confusion regarding the procedure accordingly.
Sedation dentistry is a comfortable option for many patients. Dr Matt VanderMolen and his staff in Advanced Dental Care of Springfield, IL provide a pain and anxiety-free environment for your comfort. If you are interested in trying sedation dentistry, call us at 217-546-3333.
Teeth Grinding – Springfield IL – Night Guards and Dental Splints
August 28, 2012
Night Guards and Dental Splints for Teeth Grinding
Have you observed any soreness of your jaw muscles after you wake up? Has your roommate ever complained of you producing this weird sound while you are sleeping? Are your teeth cusps flattened? If so, the cause could be tooth grinding or bruxism.
Bruxism is a parafunctional habit of grinding and gnashing of teeth during night or daytime, consciously or unconsciously. Your teeth contact for a longer period than tolerated and they forcefully rub against each other. For most people, this happens unconsciously during sleep. About 5- 20% of Americans experience grinding but most don’t even realize it. You may not even know that you grind your teeth unless others let you know.
Symptomatically, jaw muscle fatigue, ringing ears, flattened and abraded teeth, and dull headaches characterize bruxism. However, not all these are conspicuous unless condition has gone on for a long time. Some have chronic conditions while others grind rarely. From there, the severity of symptoms varies.
The vigorous prolonged contact of your teeth during grinding can stress your teeth and surrounding oral structures. If this is left unmanaged, bruxism can cause tooth fractures, unsightly flat and mobile teeth, and temporomandibular joint problems. Of course, all of these can compromise dental health.
Many studies identify multiple reasons for tooth grinding. Stress and fatigue are a main factor for many. Unbalanced bite due to poorly made dental restorations or dental appliances can also trigger tooth grinding. Nutritional deficiencies and personality disorders are also cite
d as possible factors for teeth grinding.
One way to handle bruxism is through dental splints or night guards. Night guards prevent friction between teeth and distribute stress. They are customized acrylic appliances, which you can wear while you are sleeping or when you are stressed. With this, bruxism may still occur but the teeth will be protected.
Advanced Dental Care and Dr. Matt VanderMolen can easily fabricate a night guard or a dental splint for you. An impression of your teeth will be taken and a dental technician will form the acrylic night guard over the replica of your teeth. With few adjustments, Dr. VanderMolen can fit the night guard to your mouth.
Consult Dr. VanderMolen and visit Advanced Dental Care regarding your concern with bruxism and your interest in having splints and night guards. You may also schedule an appointment by contacting our office at 217-546-3333.
Sedation Dentistry- Springfield IL – Do I Need Local Anesthesia?
August 21, 2012
Do I Need Local Anesthesia?
One of the greatest anxieties of many when going to a dentist is the anesthetic injection. The fear of needles leads us to question our dentists if we really need them. Many dentists would suggest sedation dentistry that you will not feel a thing but local anesthesia is still included in the treatment plan. Why is this so?
Dentists like Dr. Matt VanderMolen of Advanced Dental Care are committed to providing a comfortable and stress free environment in their 
clinic. They have studied and developed different approaches to succeed in this. One notable practice is through conscious sedation. Sedation dentistry allows you to be worry free during the dental process. Mainly, sedatives depress your central nervous system at a certain degree. However, dental sedation does not automatically cover lack of pain. Thus, your dentist use local anesthesia.
Local anesthesia provides regional loss of sensation. That means that you will sense no pain on the area anesthetized. Anesthetic solutions will surround the nerve endings of your tooth and gums resulting to numbness. There are a few indications for local anesthesia. If a live tooth will undergo surgery like extraction, drilling or deep cleaning, your dentist may give you local anesthetics to ease distress and pain.
Dentists apply topical and injectable anesthetics when required. They first secure the area to anesthetize from moisture and saliva. Topical anesthesia may be swabbed or sprayed. This is a pre-injectable anesthesia procedure.
Then, injectable anesthetics, which may trigger needle phobia, will be loaded. The needle puncture, usually, is not the painful part but the entrance of the anesthetic solution marks sensitivity. In about a few seconds to minutes, the area anesthetized will feel nothing but pressure and your dentist can finish his work without you knowing it. This perception may last for a few hours.
If you are nervous about needles or have other phobias surrounding dental care, sedation dentistry can give you the pain and anxiety-free visit you are looking for. While under sedation, you will not feel the anesthetic being administered.
Dr VanderMolen is concerned about your comfort. Find out if sedation dentistry is right for you by contacting our office at 217-546-3333.
Preventative Care – Springfield IL – Is Manual Cleaning as Effective as Ultrasonic Scaling?
August 14, 2012
Is Manual Cleaning as Effective as Ultrasonic Scaling?
Most dentists ask you to come to the clinic every six months for a check-up and dental cleaning. Dental cleaning is the preventative procedure that assures gums and teeth stay healthy.
Have you noticed what kind of cleaning instruments your dentist uses? Many dentists involve ultrasonic scalers in removing the calcular deposits and plaque on your teeth. This machine vibrates and emits water during the whole cleaning process. Because ultrasonic cleaning is more efficient and less tiring than hand- activated scaling, many dentists choose this, especially if there are calcular deposits.
Manual or hand activated cleaning pertains to the hand instruments like scalers and curettes. When it comes to fine deposits attached on teeth, manual scaling is superior. A hygienist or dentist can put more energy in manual cleaning. As this option is more strenuous, more dental practitioners prefer ultrasonic scaling. Often it is the practice that, after the ultrasonic scaling, manual scaling follows.
In the hands of a skilled dental health professional like the staff at Advanced Dental Care, ultrasonic scaling and manual scaling can yield the same results and effectivity.
Because of the vibrating action of the ultrasonic scalers, we can say that the tactile sensibility, the ability to feel if there are still any remaining deposits attached to the tooth, of the dentist or hygienist is hindered. Thus, to ensure that no remaining dirt is left, hand-activated scaling is still suggested after ultrasonic scaling.
It is, again, a matter of inclination whether patients would want ultrasonic or hand- activated scaling. Patients consider the time spent during the cleaning procedure and the sensitivity that could be possibly felt.
May it be ultrasonic or hand-activated cleaning; you will notice the improvement on your gums and teeth afterwards. However, you will still need to maintain the professionally cleaned area with regular tooth brushing and flossing.
Dr. VanderMolen and the staff at Advanced Dental Care of Springfield care about keeping your teeth healthy and beautiful. For more information on preventative care or any of our other services, contact our office at 217-546-3333.
Sedation Dentistry – Springfield IL – How to Choose a Sedation Dentist
August 7, 2012
What To Consider in Finding a Sedation Dentist For You
Many patients in Springfield, Illinois are afraid of going to the dentist. Various reasons may be in play, but thanks to sedation dentistry, patients are gaining strength to face their fears. Sedation dentistry works for patients wanting to feel more at ease while in the dental clinic.
Dental sedation is a technique to relax a patient pharmacologically before a dental procedure. There are different systems of sedation but as a general result, patients are relaxed and comfortable during the entire appointment or procedure.
Not all dentists are capable and equipped to execute sedation for their patients. If you are interested in finding a sedation dentist for you, look for sedation certifications from the American Dental Association (ADA) and other trustworthy dental institutions.
Minimal and moderate sedation methods require training and certification. Dr. Matt VanderMolen completed an 80- hour course at University of California at Los Angeles School of Dentistry under Dr. John Yagiela, an internationally recognized practitioner in pain and anxiety control. The course covers practical sedation on patients aside from lecture hours. Fortunately for Springfield, Illinois patients, Dr. VanderMolen soundly recognizes the necessity to manage anxiety and pain. Moreover, Dr. VanderMolen fulfilled an advanced cardiac life support certification, which is significantly relevant to sedation.
Dr. VanderMolen and his staff at Advanced Dental Care are experienced in Sedation Dentistry. They can find the options that are right for you. Schedule an appointment to discuss your treatments coupled with sedation. Call 217-546-3333 today.