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The Santa Cruz Family Dentist for Every Stage of Life

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Whether you’re young or old, dental care is an important piece of your health. Landmark Dental Group, a Santa Cruz family dental office, has the experience and procedures available to help you at every stage of your life. Read on to find out how they serve children and adults!

Dentistry for Children

Teaching your child good oral hygiene habits from an early age is imperative for promoting a healthy smile throughout their life. By the time you see that first tooth start to emerge, you should take your child in for their first dental exam. It’s true that your child’s first teeth are only temporary, but they aren’t useless. Well-cared for primary teeth help promote healthy permanent teeth, so this is a great time in your child’s life to really focus on preventative care.

Of course, one of the most basic things you should ensure that your Santa Cruz family dentist does is provide routine cleanings. Just like adult teeth, primary teeth need regular cleanings to remove tartar and prevent cavities. Landmark Dental also provides dental sealants that help prevent decay before they starts. However, the doctors and staff at Landmark Dental also know that one of the most important tools for fighting bad oral health is knowledge. For this reason, they will talk with you and your child about healthy habits, such as proper brushing/flossing, how a healthy diet affects the teeth, etc.

Dentistry for Adults

By the time you’re an adult, the habits you learned as a child have become routine. Hopefully, they were good habits. But whatever the case, preventative care is still extremely important, so you should still see your dentist for regular cleanings and exams. For some people, restorative procedures may be necessary. Even if you take good care of your teeth, you may fall victim to a cavity once or twice, and for this, Landmark Dental offers tooth-colored fillings. If you have a lot of decay, big fillings or cracks, Landmark Dental can help protect those weak teeth with dental crowns. Root canal therapy is also available as an alternative to extractions for infected teeth.

Adulthood is also when you may start thinking more about how your smile looks. Luckily, Landmark Dental Group provides many cosmetic dental procedures. Some of the most popular cosmetic procedures available at Landmark Dental include tooth whitening and porcelain veneers. However, they also provide porcelain crowns, porcelain bridges and dental implants.

Geriatric Dentistry

Elderly patients may have to deal with a lot of different oral concerns. Even if you cared for your smile throughout your life, there are a lot of issues you may face. Oftentimes, older patients take several types of medications for other common medical problems, and this can lead to dry mouth, which can cause tooth decay. Teeth can also become worn on the incisal and occlusal surfaces from constant wear and tear. Patients who haven’t followed the best oral care regimen may now be suffering from gum disease, an extremely common oral disease in elderly adults.

Another common problem many elderly patients share is missing teeth. Whether from poor oral hygiene habits or regular wear and tear from getting older, many elderly patients have missing teeth. Some may even be missing all of their teeth. Landmark Dental provides patients with denture services, including partial dentures, complete dentures and even implant-supported dentures, which are extremely secure and sturdy.

Whatever your age, it’s of utmost importance to take care of your teeth, and finding a good Santa Cruz family dentist is the first step. Landmark Dental Group offers preventative, restorative and cosmetic services for children, adults and the elderly. For more information, contact them today.

Landmark Dental Group: A Family Dental Practice in Santa Cruz

Dr. Scott J. Weston, DDS & Dr. Trang K. Tran, DDS

If you’ve been looking for an excellent family dental practice in Santa Cruz, consider visiting Landmark Dental Group. Whatever your age and whether you’re looking to prevent cavities or replace a missing tooth, Landmark Dental can help.

Please see below for more information about the individual services offered by Landmark Dental.

Pediatrics Services

Your child won’t have their primary teeth for long, but that doesn’t mean they should be neglected. Taking good care of your child’s teeth from an early age promotes good dental habits for life, and promotes healthy adult teeth. At Landmark Dental Group, you’ll find a wide range of services for younger patients, such as dental sealants. The staff at Landmark Dental is there to help educate you regarding your child’s oral health. Whether you have questions regarding bottle feeding, normal tooth development and eruption, habits like thumb sucking or anything in between, the knowledgeable doctors and staff can help.

Geriatrics Services

Children aren’t the only ones who often require specialized services. Oftentimes, elderly patients struggle with many dental concerns that become more common as you age. Elderly patients may struggle with gum disease, gum recession, root decay and dry mouth — the increased risks for these caused by many common medications. As a result of these issues, many elderly patients suffer from missing teeth, which can make it difficult to eat and speak. Landmark provides denture services (including implant-supported dentures) to replace missing teeth.

Preventative and Restorative Procedures

A hallmark of any good family dental practice is that it offers excellent preventative and restorative procedures. To help prevent oral issues, Dr. Trang K Tran, DDS and Dr. Scott J Weston, DDS at Landmark offer regular cleanings/examinations, and the friendly staff will help to educate you on proper at-home cleaning and care techniques. If plaque and tartar are found below the gum line, scaling and root planing is also available. Restorative procedures include fillings, extractions, crowns and root canal therapy.

Cosmetic Procedures

If you have cosmetic dental concerns, such as stained teeth, Landmark Dental Group offers esthetic-related services, too. Both Dr. Tran and Dr. Weston have continued their education with courses in cosmetic dentistry to better position themselves to give patients beautiful smiles. Tooth whitening is available for patients who want a brighter, whiter smile. If your front teeth are a little crooked, have minor gaps or have chips/cracks, porcelain veneers can provide an almost flawless smile. Porcelain crowns or veneers can help protect weaker teeth and make them look beautiful. Lastly, if you have missing teeth, Landmark offers dentures, porcelain dental bridges and dental implants.

Sedation Dentistry

It’s a fact that many people have fears about going to the dentist. Landmark Dental can help by providing Sedation Dentistry. For minimal sedation, try inhalation sedation. You’ll be relaxed during the procedure, but once the nitrous oxide is removed, you’ll be back to normal. For minimal-to-moderate sedation, try oral sedation. It’s a pill that should be taken about an hour before the procedure. It causes drowsiness, so you’ll need someone to drive you home. For moderate sedation, IV conscious sedation is another option. A sedative is injected intravenously. Again, you’ll need a ride home after the procedure because you will feel some drowsiness.

Landmark Dental Group is a great family dental practice in Santa Cruz. They offer services for the entire family, including kids and the elderly. Plus, their skilled doctors can provide many quality cosmetic dental procedures. For more information about Landmark Dental Group, contact them today.

Veneers Done Right in Santa Cruz

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Thanks to all the advancements in cosmetic dentistry, just about anyone can get the flawless and gorgeous smile they have always wanted. Veneers are one popular cosmetic dental procedure that fix a variety of cosmetic problems. If you are considering dental veneers, check out these four facts to learn all about Landmark Dental veneers.

What Can Veneers Do For Your Smile?

Veneers are not the best option for correcting structural problems, such as weak teeth, but they can fix many different types of cosmetic concerns you may have.

Common flaws corrected with veneers include:

Stains/discoloration – Stains that cannot be corrected with tooth whitening procedures can be covered with veneers
Gaps/crooked teeth – Gaps and crooked teeth (minor to moderate) can be fixed without the need of braces
Chips/cracks – Small chips and cracks can also be covered with veneers to make the tooth look whole and solid
Uneven teeth – Teeth that are too long or too short can be made even with the help of veneers

What Types of Veneers Does Landmark Dental Offer?

Landmark Dental Group offers ceramic (porcelain) veneers and resin-based composite veneers. Ceramic veneers are the more expensive option, but they also create the best results because the porcelain used to craft them can mimic the look of real teeth, giving your veneers a translucent look. Resin-based composite veneers are made from the same material used to make tooth-colored fillings. They are less expensive, but they don’t copy the look of real teeth as well as ceramic. Resin-based composite veneers can usually be done in one visit, but ceramic veneers take longer.

Is the Process Painful?

To place the veneers, the dentist must first remove a small layer of your tooth’s enamel, but the process is not painful. As with most dental procedures, the dentist will use a local anesthetic, so you won’t feel anything. If you are nervous, ask your dentist about sedation options. Sedation options include inhalation (minimal), oral (minimal to moderate) and IV conscious sedation (moderate). For inhalation sedation, you’ll be back to normal as soon as the gas is removed, so you will not need anyone to drive you home, but for oral sedation and conscious sedation, you will want someone to bring you to the dentist and take you home.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Dental Veneers?

Not everyone is a good candidate for dental veneers, but you are probably a good candidate if:

You are in good overall health
You have no current cavities
You don not have active gum disease
You don not grind your teeth
You have enough health tooth enamel for the procedure
You don not have severely crooked teeth
You are dedicated to good oral hygiene

If you can say yes to all these factors, and you have one or more concern that can be corrected with dental veneers, you are probably a great candidate.

Dental veneers can fix so many cosmetic dental issues, and if you are a good candidate, you should definitely consider them. Stop hiding your smile and get the one you deserve. For more information about dental veneers or other cosmetic dental procedures, contact Landmark Dental Group today.

The Truth About Root Canal Therapy

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You hear your dentist speak those three ominous words: “root canal therapy,” and your heart skips a beat because you’ve heard that root canals are something to fear, but is the treatment? Nope, root canal therapy is something you should get excited about. Many times, therapy removes that uncomfortable infection you have and saves your tooth, so you won’t need an extraction. If you’re a little nervous about root canal therapy, learn how Landmark Dental Group makes it easy and comfortable.

The Area Gets Numbed

If you were to walk by a person getting a root canal treatment, it may look a bit overwhelming. The patient has to have a rubber dam covering almost their entire mouth, so the infected tooth can be isolated, and the dentist uses strange tools you haven’t seen before. However, there’s no need to fear root canal therapy because you won’t feel anything. As with many dental procedures, the dentist uses a local anesthetic to numb the area, so you feel nothing while the dentist works. You may look a little silly and feel a little uncomfortable during the procedure, but it should be pain-free.

You Can Request Additional Ways to Relax

If you’re still nervous about the procedure, Landmark Dental Group can help. They offer sedation dentistry options. For minimal sedation, the dentist can administer inhalation sedation (nitrous oxide). With inhalation sedation, you feel completely relaxed during the procedure, but after the procedure, you’re fine to drive yourself home. Oral sedation offers minimal to moderate sedation. You’ll take a pill before the procedure, and you’ll need someone to drive you to and from the dentist. Last, IV conscious sedation is another moderate form of sedation. The dentist uses an IV to administer a sedative, and as with oral sedation, you won’t be able to drive home after the procedure.

The Infection Is Removed

The real pain associated with root canal treatment doesn’t have anything to do with the treatment at all. People who need root canal therapy are often in severe pain because of the infection, which puts pressure on the nerves and blood vessels in the tooth pulp. This is what causes your pain. The root canal therapy is what alleviates that pain. The entire tooth pulp is removed. Your root canal treatment may only take one visit, but sometimes, the dentist breaks it into two so that medicine can be inserted directly into the pulp to help remove the infection.

Aftercare Is Minimal

When you get a tooth extracted, there’s a lot you need to do to care for the affected area, such as avoid eating on that side. However, aftercare for a root canal is minimal. You will need to schedule another appointment for a crown, which will protect the treated tooth from breakage, but with proper care, that tooth may last the rest of your life. You may experience some mild tenderness in the area surrounding the tooth, but that can be treated with over-the-counter or prescription medications. Your dentist may also prescribe antibiotics.

It’s common for patients to cringe at the thought of root canal therapy — but there’s no reason. Especially if you’re already in pain from the infection, you should look forward to a root canal treatment because it will alleviate that pain without the need for an extraction. For more information about root canal treatments, contact Landmark Dental Group today.

Pediatric Dentistry in Santa Cruz

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If you need a dentist for your child, Landmark Dental Group in Santa Cruz can treat all of your child’s dentistry requirements. We love to educate parents about how to care for their children’s teeth at home. If you’re in the process of choosing a dentist for your whole family, please see below for four reasons why Landmark Dental is a wise dental choice for treating the pediatric and adult population.

Services Are Gentle, but Effective

Even as an adult, you probably get a little squeamish about going to the dentist, so it’s no wonder your kids might feel the same way. However, know that when you choose Landmark Dental Group, your child will receive services that are gentle enough to ease away that fear, yet effective enough to protect your child’s smile. Plus, they have many services that are specifically designed for children, such as sealants.

It’s a Family-Oriented Place

Everyone at Landmark Dental Group does their best to welcome families and children. Seeing children as young as six months old is not something new to the doctors and staff. In fact, Landmark Dental wants to see children. The earlier you start routine dental care for your child, the better their chances of having good oral health for life. Of course, that doesn’t mean they only want to see children. Landmark Dental also offers treatments that are specific to adults and geriatric patients, making it a place that you can call home for your entire family’s dental needs.

The Environment Is Clean and Welcoming

Perhaps you’ve experienced walking into a waiting room and seeing stains on the floor or old, ratty furniture. No one wants to experience that, especially if you have kids with you. At Landmark, this isn’t the case. The inviting and clean office is designed to relieve the stress associated with going to the dentist — instead of adding more. Kids even have their own table where they can color or read while they wait. Also, each treatment room has small doors, offering some privacy.

Landmark Dental Group Educates Parents

One of the lasting reasons to choose Landmark Dental for your child’s oral health is due to the fact that they educate parents so they can better help their children at home. You’ll learn what to expect with your child’s teeth, such as when baby teeth and adult teeth erupt — or are expected to erupt. However, you’ll also learn about ways to help keep your child’s teeth healthy by learning when and how to brush, how to avoid cavities when using a bottle — and many other tips. Teaching you how to best care for your child’s oral health from day one is the best way to promote good oral health for life.

A good dentist that treats children isn’t hard to find. Just stop by Landmark Dental. With a focus on care for the entire family, Landmark Dental can treat your entire family. For more information about services, contact Landmark Dental Group today.

Geriatric Dentistry at Landmark Dental Group

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As you age, you need more specialized care, and that includes your oral care. Landmark Dental Group has all the skills and services that geriatric patients need, such as gum disease treatment and dentures. Check out how Landmark Dental can help with the varying oral problems that older patients face.

Dry Mouth

Many patients in the elderly population take common medications for a variety of health issues – including high blood pressure and diabetes. Although these medications can be beneficial for the whole body, many can cause oral side effects that can negatively effect the mouth and teeth. A very common side effect from taking medications is xerostomia, or dry mouth. With a dry mouth, there is a significant decrease in saliva flow. Since saliva is necessary to balance the pH in our mouth and reduce the acidity that bacteria are producing, the rate of cavities is greatly increased.

Periodontal Disease

Periodontal disease or gum disease is not a natural part of aging. However, it is a very common condition in elderly patients. Landmark Dental offers many services and treatments to help control, or treat, the different types of gum disease. Patients can undergo deep cleaning scaling and root planing to remove inflammation-causing bacteria and plaque.

Missing Teeth

Whether due to gum disease, decay or simply natural wear and tear, many elderly patients are missing some, or all, of their teeth. This can make eating and speaking extremely difficult. However, Landmark Dental offers many different types of denture options. For patients with a few missing teeth, partial dentures are a great option, but for patients who are missing all of their teeth, complete dentures are best. Landmark Dental also offers implant-supported dentures, which create more stability than traditional dentures. Whichever option ends up working out best in your situation, rest assured that you will regain your smile’s beauty and functionality.

Poorly-Fitted Dentures

You may already have dentures, but if you’ve had them for a long time, they may no longer fit. When you’re missing teeth, your jaw naturally diminishes and becomes smaller. Over time, this causes your dentures to become too big. If your dentures continue to move or fall out when you talk or eat, it may be time for a new set. Your Landmark Dental dentist can determine if a completely new set of dentures is best or if less-expensive relines are a good option. Relines use your existing dentures, but recapture the new shape of your mouth so that your current dentures fit better.

Root Caries

Root caries are another common problem in older adults. Even if you don’t have gum disease, your gums may recede or develop pockets as you age. This can expose the vulnerable tooth roots to bacteria and plaque. Your tooth roots aren’t protected by enamel, so they are more prone to decay when exposed. Your Landmark Dental dentist can treat the cavities and work on a solution to prevent them from happening again.

Whether you have gum disease, need dentures, have root caries or any other dental concern, Landmark Dental is here. With services specifically designed for geriatric patients, they have the education and experience to help patients at every stage of life. For more information about geriatric dentistry services, contact Landmark Dental Group today.

General Dentistry Tip: The Importance of Flossing

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Keeping your smile healthy starts with good at-home cleanings that happen on a daily basis. One commonly ignored aspect of general dentistry, however, is flossing. Flossing your teeth is extremely important because only floss can clean those hard to reach areas between your teeth. If you haven’t been flossing or don’t see any reason to floss, check out these important facts.

Flossing Removes Plaque

The reason that flossing is so important is because it gets rid of the plaque that hides between your teeth. Your toothbrush bristles can’t usually reach these tight places, and when you don’t floss, it allows that plaque to harden and to form tartar, which can only be removed by a dental professional. Even if you have routine cleanings (but especially if you skip those, too), the bacteria contained in tartar and plaque can eat away at your tooth enamel until it causes decay or a cavity.

Clean Gums Help Prevent Gum Disease

It’s not just your teeth that can fall victim to plaque and tartar. When you don’t clean between your teeth, the tartar also irritates your gums. If left untreated, it can cause your gums to become inflamed, irritated and infected: a condition known as gum disease. Advanced gum disease can lead to severe tooth loss and gum recession, which drastically impacts the health of your smile. So, do you want to spend a few minutes a day flossing, or do you want to suffer with bloody gums and loose teeth if you do develop gum disease?

It May Help Prevent Other Diseases

General dentistry basics, such as flossing, don’t just affect your oral health; the bacteria that collects on your teeth when you don’t floss isn’t just bad for your mouth. Research has proven that the bacteria in your mouth can affect the rest of your body, increasing your chances of heart disease, diabetes and respiratory problems. So, when you skip flossing, you’re not just putting yourself at risk for a little cavity, you may be putting your heart at risk too.

It Doesn’t Really Matter When You Floss

You may hear people argue that it’s best to floss after a meal, and other people say it’s best to floss before the meal. The truth is, however, that it really doesn’t matter when you floss. The most important thing is that you floss well. Taking thirty seconds to quickly flick the floss between a few teeth isn’t enough. You need to take a few minutes, so you can actually clean every bit of food and bacteria between your teeth. Another thing that doesn’t really matter is what type of floss you use. Whether you use traditional floss, flossers, waxed floss, thick floss, etc., just make sure to use them correctly.

Don’t neglect your teeth and gums by skipping flossing. Just like brushing and routine professional cleanings help keep your mouth healthy, so does flossing. If you would like more information about how to properly floss or you just want additional general dentistry tips that can keep your mouth happy, contact Landmark Dental Group today.

Santa Cruz Family Dentistry Practice

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If you live in the Santa Cruz area and are looking for a qualified, trustworthy dental provider for your entire family, look no further than Landmark Dental. Their wide list of services are sure to meet the needs of everyone in your family. Get to know a little more about Landmark Dental and the doctors.

Who Is Landmark Dental Group?

Landmark Dental Group is a full-service dental practice that provides preventative, restorative and cosmetic dental procedures for your entire family. We also offer specific services for children — such as first exams/cleanings and sealants, and services specifically designed to help seniors. Common treatments for all patients include cleanings, dental implants, tooth-colored fillings, crowns, dental bridges, tooth whitening, and root canal therapy. Landmark Dental is committed to offering comprehensive oral care that can meet everyone’s needs.

Our Doctors: Trang K Tran, DDS

Dr. Trang K Tran is one of the skilled dentists at Landmark. She began her education with a Bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and she went on to earn her Doctorate degree from the University of California, San Francisco School of Dentistry. A strong believer in continuing education, Dr. Tran continues to pursue the knowledge, skills and techniques that will help her to assist her patients. For example, in an effort to prevent the need to send patients to a specialist for root canal therapy, Dr. Tran has taken courses herself to learn the technique.

She is a member of the American Dental Association, the California Dental Association, and the National Association for Professional Women. Dr. Tran strives to form lasting relationships with her patients so that they can work together to prevent and treat any dental issues that arise.

Our Doctors: Scott J Weston, DDS

The other exceptional dentist you’ll find at Landmark Dental Group is Dr. Scott J Weston. Like Dr. Tran, Dr. Weston first earned a Bachelor’s degree in biology before pursuing dentistry, but his degree came from Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota. When he was ready to pursue dentistry, Dr. Weston headed to California and earned his Doctorate degree from the University of California, San Francisco School of Dentistry, where he earned the Francis A. Sooy Award for “Outstanding Dental Professional.”

Another strong believer in continuing education for the benefit of dentists and patients alike, Dr. Weston has taken many specialized courses. His continuing education has largely focused on cosmetic procedures, like dental implants, but he is also skilled at sedation dentistry and has specific experience with geriatric dentistry.

At Landmark Dental Group, the skilled staff is there to help you every step of the way, and thanks to their qualified and well-educated dentists, you can get just about any dental treatment you need. If you would like to learn more about what Landmark Dental can do for you, contact them today by clicking here or by calling (831) 464-1372.

Dental Implants in Santa Cruz

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Why Choose to Get Dental Implants?

If you have missing teeth, you know how embarrassing it can be to smile! You want to hide your mouth from the world, but instead of trying to hide, consider getting that amazing smile you deserve. With dental implants, you can get your smile back. If a beautiful smile is something you want, check out these three facts, and get to know a little more about dental implants and how Landmark Dental Group in Santa Cruz can help.

Dental Implants Are Durable

You may wonder how dental implants work. Well, the answer is osseointegration, which is just a big word to say that dental implants fuse to bone. This is important because your teeth aren’t just sitting in your jaw. They are connected to your jaw with a strong ligament. This ligament makes your teeth durable enough to withstand the daily grind. Dental implants use osseointegration to create a powerful hold that mimics the ligament’s hold. Dental implants are so durable, and with proper care, they may actually last the rest of your life, which you can’t say about dentures or dental bridges.

Dental Implants Protect Your Jaw

Unlike dentures and dental bridges, which sit on your gums, dental implants sit in your jaw like real teeth. This protects your jaw from diminishing. When you lose teeth, your jawbone doesn’t have much to do. Imagine if you were bedridden for weeks. Your leg muscles would shrink because they weren’t needed. Similarly, your jawbone shrinks when you have no teeth to stimulate it. Dentures and dental bridges can’t stimulate the jawbone. Only dental implants have the ability to stimulate your jaw like real teeth, which prevents it from shrinking and altering the shape of your face.

Dental Implants Come in Many Options

Whether you have one missing tooth or several missing teeth, there are options. Single dental implants are perfect to replace one single tooth. However, if you are missing multiple teeth in a row, several single dental implants may not be the best option. Luckily, you can also choose an implant-supported bridge or implant-supported denture, which use fewer titanium implants to hold them in place when compared to an equal number of single implants. For example, four single implants would need four titanium roots, but a bridge may only need two, and this lowers the cost to a patient.

Landmark Dental Group Can Help

If you’re interested in getting dental implants, the best thing you can do is find a doctor with experience that you can trust. The doctors at Landmark Dental Group have that experience, and because they are passionate about continuing education, their skills are constantly growing. Even if you aren’t sure if a dental implant is right for you, Landmark Dental will answer your questions and offer the best advice for your situation (not theirs). In some cases, this may mean choosing a different treatment plan that is more affordable, and works better with your dental health and habits.

You don’t have to hide your smile another moment! Landmark Dental Group is here to help. With their wealth of knowledge and experience, they’ll help you transform your smile. If you’re ready to start the conversation, contact Landmark Dental Group today for a consultation.

Landmark Dental Offers Sedation Dentistry in Santa Cruz

sedated man dental examination at dentist

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Perhaps a dentist didn’t numb your mouth enough once when you were a kid, or maybe the sound of the drill causes the hair on your arms to rise. Whatever your fear, you can’t let it prevent you from seeing the dentist. Luckily, for patients who experience anxiety and stress about going to the dentist, there are three sedation options available.

What Is Sedation Dentistry?

Many people get anxious about going to the dentist. Even something as simple as a filling can cause a patient to panic and avoid seeing the dentist, which can lead to even more dental problems. While the dentists and staff at Landmark Dental will work with you so you fully understand the procedure in order to reduce anxiety, they also offer sedation dentistry options for patients who still have some reservations. Although you are awake (usually) during sedation dentistry, the sedation can create a stress- and worry-free environment so that you can keep your smile beautiful.

Option 1: Inhalational Sedation

You may not realize it, but you’ve probably heard of inhalational sedation. It’s informally known as laughing gas, but its actual name is nitrous oxide. Despite how it’s depicted on TV, nitrous oxide won’t have you laughing hysterically in the dentist’s chair. It’s simply a minimal sedation technique that’s designed to leave patients relaxed during dental procedures. It’s the most minimal form of sedation, and is only effective while the gas is being inhaled (this is because the human body doesn’t metabolize it). When the treatment is over and the dentist turns off the gas, you’ll be back to normal and will even be able to drive yourself home.

Option 2: Oral Sedation

Oral sedation is another option that can leave you care-free at the dentist. Most commonly, oral sedation comes in the form of a pill from the Valium family. You’ll need to take the pill about an hour before the procedure, so that it’s in full effect when the dental procedure begins. With oral sedation, one can expect to feel drowsy — and even fall asleep for a bit. Because the effects don’t wear off as fast as inhalation sedation, you’ll need someone to drive you home after your treatment. The effectiveness of oral sedation depends on the dosage, but it varies from minimal to moderate.

Option 3: IV Sedation

IV sedation is a form of conscious moderate sedation offered at Landmark Dental Group. With IV sedation, the dentist slowly injects medication directly into your vein until you are sedated enough. Although patients are comfortably sedated and may even remain awake during the entire procedure, they usually don’t remember much of it afterwards. Patients are able to talk and breathe on their own, but your vitals will be closely monitored during the procedure for safety. Like oral sedation, IV sedation takes time to wear off, so you’ll need a ride home from a family member or friend.

Stop avoiding the dentist because of stress or fear. When you choose Landmark Dental, you can have access to sedation services that make going to the dentist a breeze. For more information about sedation dentistry, contact Landmark Dental today by calling (831) 464-1372.

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