Dental Sedation

Visiting the dentist can be a source of anxiety for many individuals, ranging from mild unease to full-blown dental phobia. Dental procedures, even routine check-ups, can trigger fear due to the perceived discomfort and potential pain. Thankfully, dental sedation techniques have emerged as a valuable solution, offering patients a comfortable and stress-free experience during their dental visits. In this blog, we will explore what dental sedation is, the different types available, their benefits, and safety considerations to put your mind at ease and encourage regular dental care.

Understanding Dental Sedation

Dental sedation is a technique used by dentists to relax patients and minimize their discomfort during dental procedures. It involves administering medication that induces a state of relaxation, helping patients feel at ease throughout their treatment. Dental sedation is primarily employed for individuals who experience anxiety or phobia related to dental visits, but it can also be beneficial for those undergoing lengthy or complex procedures.

Types of Dental Sedation

  • Nitrous Oxide: Nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas, is one of the mildest forms of sedation. It is delivered through a mask placed over the patient’s nose. The gas induces a sense of euphoria and relaxation, reducing anxiety during the procedure. This option is primarily used on children in a hospital environment.
  • IV Sedation: Intravenous (IV) sedation is administered directly into the patient’s bloodstream through an IV line. This type of sedation allows the dentist to adjust the level of sedation during the procedure, ensuring the patient’s comfort. IV sedation is often used for more complex dental treatments or for patients with severe anxiety.

Benefits of Dental Sedation

  • Anxiety Reduction: Dental sedation is particularly beneficial for patients who experience dental anxiety or phobia. By inducing relaxation, patients can approach their dental visits with a calmer mindset, leading to a more positive overall experience.
  • Pain Management: Sedation can help manage pain perception during dental procedures. By minimizing discomfort, patients are more likely to cooperate with the dentist, facilitating smoother and more effective treatments.
  • Time Efficiency: For patients undergoing lengthy or complex procedures, dental sedation can help them remain relaxed and cooperative throughout the treatment. This can lead to increased time efficiency and better results.
  • Improved Dental Care Compliance: Regular dental check-ups are essential for maintaining good oral health. For patients who have avoided dental visits due to fear, dental sedation can encourage them to receive the necessary care, preventing potential dental problems from worsening.

Safety Considerations

While dental sedation is generally safe, dentists and dental teams must thoroughly assess each patient’s medical history and suitability for the specific sedation method. Patients should disclose any existing health conditions, allergies, or medications they are taking to avoid potential complications. Additionally, dentists should have the appropriate training and certification in dental sedation to ensure patient safety.

Conclusion

Dental sedation has transformed the way people experience dental care. By offering a relaxed and anxiety-free environment, patients can receive the dental treatment they need without fear or discomfort. Whether it’s the mild effects of nitrous oxide or the deeper relaxation of IV sedation, dental professionals can tailor the approach to suit each patient’s needs. If you’ve been avoiding the dentist due to anxiety, discuss dental sedation options with your dentist to pave the way for better oral health and a more pleasant dental experience. Remember, a healthy smile starts with overcoming your fears and taking that crucial step towards optimal dental care.

We’re moving to our new home!

The day we’ve all been waiting for has finally come…

We’re moving to our new home, and we are so pleased to share our news and are really excited to show you around.

It’s been a long road leading to this exciting time and our team have worked extremely hard to make it happen, but we couldn’t have done it without the support of our fantastic patients, so firstly we want to say a massive thank you for all of your support and enthusiasm surrounding our move.

We’re so pleased to update you on some of the amazing changes we’ve worked hard to create for you and our team. These include:

  • Additional, larger and better-equipped dental rooms, allowing more flexibility and easier access to our dentists and hygienists
  • An increased range of treatment options we can offer including sedation, implants, orthodontic, minor oral surgery and cosmetic treatments
  • New state-of-the-art equipment including new IT and telephone infrastructure allowing for improvements at our front of house, digital and safer storage of your confidential records, along with a host of new dental equipment to aid in better assessment, diagnosis and treatment options
  • A larger front of house and administrative team to allow for quicker answering of calls, booking appointments and managing your care
  • A dedicated on-site car park
  • Increased waiting room capacity with three waiting rooms along with separation of the reception and waiting rooms. We hope this allows for a quieter and calmer waiting room and increased confidentiality of discussions at reception
  • Addition of new non-clinical consultation rooms where you can discuss your care in a non-dental setting and in a private space
  • Creation of a new state-of-the-art and dedicated decontamination suite, allowing us to meet the very latest standards for cleanliness, sterilisation and decontamination
  • We have considered our more elderly and mobility impaired during our plans too. With their care in mind, we have designed these premises so there is step-free access across all of the ground floor with larger wheelchair-accessible surgeries and accessible WC facilities
  • A new website and social media platform in development so we can provide dental health advice, advise about practice developments and any exciting changes

We’ve had team members dedicating their time to making the whole practice as comfortable and relaxing as we can possibly make it. Our larger premises have also allowed us to create private, non-clinical spaces where patients can go with a member of the team to discuss their treatment options in depth along with their benefits and risks, to ensure all questions are answered to enable you to choose the best option for you in a more relaxing environment.

But we haven’t stopped there, we’ve had new facilities built for our team to give them more room to prepare for the working day and spaces that they can go to relax during their break. We want our new home to also benefit our team’s wellbeing so they are happy and healthy, just like we want our patients to be!

We have added some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) which may assist with any queries you may have:

When are you moving?

We will move to our new premises on Tuesday 23rd November 2021. Any appointments on or after this date will be at our new premises.

What is the address?

Our new address is Eccleshill Clinic, Rillington Mead, Bradford, BD10 0ED.

Will there be car parking?

Yes, there is a dedicated free to use car park for our patients.

What do I need to do next?

Nothing at all! All of your existing booked appointments will remain valid and unchanged. Please attend our new home for your appointment and we look forward to showing you around.

I don’t have my next appointment(s) booked yet. What should I do?

Please get in touch with our reception team on 01274 633406 to book an appointment. They will be happy to help!

Will I be seeing the same dentist?

Yes, all of our team are moving to our new home, so we plan for our patients to continue to see their routine dentist. If we do need to make any changes in this regard, we will endeavour to let you know in advance.

Do I need to re-register with the practice to reserve my care with you?

No, please do not worry. Your place with our practice will automatically be reserved at our new home.

If however, you have failed to attend for 18 months or more, missed appointments or cancelled at short notice, your reserved place in the practice may have been cancelled. If you do wish to query this, please get in touch with the reception team on 01274 633406.

I thought you were moving to the site of the former Prince of Wales Public House. Are you not relocating there?

No, we are not. We indeed were planning to relocate to this site but this fell through and thus we moved on to acquire and renovate the former Eccleshill Clinic. Our understanding is that this site is subject to redevelopment too, but this is unrelated to us.

Why are you moving?

Thanks to the continued support of our patients and our very strong reputation, we have simply gotten too busy!

As many of you will have noted, it has been apparent for some time that we need more surgery, reception and waiting room space to continue to provide great patient care. We searched for some time to find our new home which would allow us to offer a great patient journey and a state of the art dental practice.

Why did you choose the former Eccleshill Clinic as your new home?

Our practice has been providing care to the people of Eccleshill and the wider Bradford community for over 35 years. Hence, it remained imperative to us to continue to support our community, and commit to investing within it.

Furthermore, Karan grew up in BD2 himself so it was clear that we were never going to leave Eccleshill! It took time for us to find premises of a suitable size within this area and which also satisfied all our needs and gives the space we need to grow and thrive.

Will you be accepting new patients?

Yes, we will have some capacity to accept new patients into the practice. This will be to join one of our in-house membership plans or an independent basis. We will not be accepting any patients under the National Health Service.

Will you now offer more services and treatments?

Yes! The practice already offers a range of dental treatments including general, cosmetic and advanced dentistry. Alongside this, we now offer Implant Dentistry, Orthodontic and Sedation services. Please ask the team if you would like any more information on this.

Do I need to do anything different when attending my next appointment?

No. All we ask is for you to attend 5 minutes before your appointment time and report to reception on arrival. It will take longer to navigate this larger building and familiarise yourself with our new home.

I plan to walk to the practice or take public transport. Is this possible?

Yes. The practice is readily accessible on foot and a bus stop on Harrogate Road is less than 30 yards away. If you’re travelling from further afield, Apperley Bridge Rail station is 1.3 miles away and you can catch a bus directly to us or walk from there.

I have mobility issues. Am I catered for?

Yes! Our new practice is fully compliant with modern standards with step-free access, automatic doors and a dedicated parking bay. We would also like to thank you for your continued support as we worked to provide you with a better service.

Eccleshill Dental relocating in Autumn 2021!

We are really excited and proud to announce that we moving to our state of the art new home this Autumn! As many of you know, we have been working really hard over the last few years to get our new home ready and after some hiccups (and Covid-19!), we are pleased to say that we will be relocating to the Former Eccleshill Clinic just off Harrogate Road (BD10 0ED)!

We will have more surgeries, bigger reception and waiting areas, brand new and state of the art diagnostic and treatment equipment and on-site car parking.

We have been working over the last year to completely update and renovate to be what we hope to be the most advanced practice in Bradford. The illustration above gives you insight to how it will look when its ready!

Please do not worry, all our team (dentists and support team) will be moving with us and you will see the same faces! All planned appointments will proceed as normal. For the moment, please attend appointments are our existing premises on Institute Road but once we have moved, we will let you know and just attend your planned appointment at our new site. We will be looking forward to showing you around!

All the best!
The Team at Eccleshill Dental

Covid-19 Lockdown Update: Jan 2021

 

To all our valued patients,

Following the Prime Minister’s update on 4th January 2021 advising that the country is moving into another lockdown, we received further guidance from the Government and NHS England that dentistry is exempt from the new restrictions due to our strict cross-infection control protocols.

This means our practice will remain open for both routine and urgent dental care for all patients. We can still offer face-to-face appointments, although these could be limited due to the constraints of our additional safety protocols.

Continue reading “Covid-19 Lockdown Update: Jan 2021”

Post-COVID 19 Re-opening

Please click on the image above to watch our patient journey guide.

We have some great news!

To our valued patients,

Firstly, I hope you and your loved ones remain safe and well.

We are very pleased to inform you that we will be reopening the practice as per government guidelines on Monday the 8th of June. We are all really looking forward to welcoming you into the practice again.

Our communities have been through a lot over the last few months, and all of us are looking forward to resuming our normal habits and routines. While many things have changed, our commitment to you and delivering exemplary patient care has remained steadfast.

When we do reopen we will prioritise appointments for any urgent or pressing issues that some of our patients have been living with. Over the following weeks, we will then phase back into normal routine care. We would be grateful if everyone is patient and understanding of this but please be reassured that we will do our best to accommodate your scheduling needs. We know many of you are anxious to get back into the practice and access our care.

I would like to take the time to reassure all our patients that we will honour all ongoing treatment appointments and all membership plan appointments/benefits too. We will reschedule all examinations, hygiene and routine appointments in due course. Our team have worked really hard to keep a log of every patient who has reached out for our help and support during this pandemic, and a log of all appointments that have been cancelled because of the lockdown. We will be in touch via phone, text and email to each of these patients to arrange appointments, and we will ensure every patient is seen as soon as possible.

To help us schedule your care and work through the backlog, we are planning to provide extra clinics, increase our opening hours and add some evening and weekend clinics too. We hope this means we can provide your care as soon as possible.

Safety and infection control has always been of the highest priority in our practice and over the past 10 weeks, we have been continually reviewing guidance from the NHS, Public Health England and the Government. This work will allow us to provide a safe environment for our patients and team members on reopening. We have been undertaking our return to work planning for many weeks now and have amended our operating procedures, purchased enhanced PPE and increased our safety protocols….. so we are now ready to go!

As a result of these increased protocols, your next visit to the practice may look and feel different. Our team members will be wearing enhanced PPE, we will be promoting social distancing and your journey through the practice may be different. The Eccleshill Dental team have created some information, including a patient journey guide and a short patient journey video summarising some of these changes.

We hope that these changes will be transient and over the coming weeks and months, we will return to normal. However, at present we must ensure the highest level of patient safety.

Alongside our email updates, we would be grateful if you could monitor our website, FaceBook and Instagram pages for regular updates and information.

We have noted that some patients have either not provided us with an email address, or have not given us appropriate consent to contact them via email (as per GDPR regulations). As a result, regrettably we have not been able to correspond with these patients personally. If you have not received our regular practice emails and would like to do so, could you please email the practice on info@eccleshilldental.com. In this email, please could you include your name, date of birth and your preferred email address? If your family members also attend our practice, please advise us of their details and preferred email address as well, so we can also update them.

Finally and as always, thank you again for your trust, loyalty and patience throughout this pandemic. Please know that we are all really looking forward to seeing you soon. We have missed you!

If you have any questions, please get in touch.

Best wishes,

Karan

Mr Karan Rishi BDS MJDF RCS (Eng) PG Cert (Clin Ed)

Thank you for your support, and stay safe,

The Team at Eccleshill Dental.

How to wash your hands

Washing your hands is one of the easiest ways to protect yourself and others from illnesses such as food poisoning, flu and coronavirus. Even if they look clean your hands still carry germs.

While in lockdown, Sannah, our dental nurse here at Eccleshill Dental, has created a video on our Facebook page to show you the best way to wash your hands.  You should wash your hands for the amount of time it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” twice (which is around 20 seconds).

If you do not have immediate access to soap and water then use alcohol-based hand sanitiser if available.

When should you wash your hands?

You should wash your hands with soap and water:

  • after using the toilet, changing a nappy or handling a potty
  • after blowing your nose, sneezing or coughing
  • before and after handling raw foods like meat and vegetables
  • before eating or handling food
  • before and after treating a cut or wound
  • after touching animals, including pets, their food and after cleaning their cages

Washing your hands properly removes dirt, viruses and bacteria to stop them spreading to other people and objects, which can spread illnesses such as food poisoning, flu or diarrhoea. It can help stop people picking up infections and spreading them to others.

Thanks for reading & stay safe,

from the Eccleshill Dental team

Braces. What Works and What Doesn’t?

There are many types of orthodontic appliances, which work to to straighten teeth. However, for every pro, there’s also a con. I’m here to get make them clear you you!

It’s important to know what there is to offer:

  • Fixed braces (Train tracks) in clear or standard silver.
  • Clear aligners. From brands like QuickStraightTeeth and Invisalign.
  • Palatal Brace.
  • Lingual Braces.

Here at Eccleshill Dental we offer both fixed braces and clear aligners. Our orthodontic-dentist, Dr. Rishi has completed many life-changing cases which patients have been over the moon with. Here as a few of the range of cases he has completed below!

So, what’s the difference?

Fixed Braces:

We offer two types of fixed appliances – Quick Straight Teeth and FastBraces. Both systems are fantastic but the severity of the teeth would determine which system would benefit yourself. Dr.Rishi is trained and skilled to understand the rotation/movement your teeth need to make before he’s even started!

Here are the advantages:

  • Fixed braces allow more movement and control so you tend to get a better result!
  • They’re cemented in so you will not forget to wear them!
  • You can have ceramic/clear brackets which are unnoticeable.
  • You can have straight teeth in as little as three months!

Here are the disadvantages:

  • Fixed braces can look unsightly.
  • Sometimes they can be hard to clean.
  • In the first few days they can be slightly uncomfortable but all braces can! If children can do it..so can you!

Clear Aligners:

The main brand people tend to associate with aligners is Invisalign. They are basically clear retainers which have to be worn for 22 hours of the day to get the best results, but you can hardly tell they are there.

Every few weeks you will have a new aligners to wear and each one moves the teeth slightly until they are perfectly aligned!

Here are the advantages:

  • Hardly visible at all which is the main reason people are drawn to them.
  • Very easy to clean!
  • At the end of the treatment you don’t need cemented brackets and wired removing which can be slightly uncomfortable – but in no means painful.
  • Everything is controlled by you, there are no adjustment appointments, just simply pick up your new trays every few weeks.

Here are the disadvantages:

  • Since aligners are removable, people can forget to out them back in!
  • You can NOT eat or drink with them in.
  • Teeth must be cleaned after every meal to advoid cavities.
  • They don’t always allow for certain movements.

If you are curious as to which system would work for yourself, contact us here at Eccleshill Dental! We are running a free orthodontic consultation right up until the end of September!

Tel – 01274 633 406 for more information.

How To: Make Tooth Brushing Enjoyable For Children!

Do you find tooth brushing time is difficult with your child/ren? Gaining cooperation with children can be difficult and it can be stressful for a parent. Here are some top tips to make tooth brushing time easier for the little ones!

Tooth brushing can be made fun, right?

Children may find tooth brushing boring which will lead to a loss in interest. Meaning they quickly become uncooperative. Children feed off energy and enjoy being surrounded in a positive environment. A child would be more open to spend time on toothbrushing if it was enjoyable for them. Praising a child for doing well is key to move them into continuous routine, but the question is, how?

How can I praise my child?

  • Sticker charts – This shows they are doing well so they are rewarded.
  • Treats – e.g. brush twice a day for 2 weeks and have a small treat. As time goes on children will fit into a routine you can extend the time period to monthly. Soon this will become second nature to them.
  • Allowing them to pick their own toothbrush and toothpaste. This will make children feel independent and excited to use their new toothbrush which they have picked. Flovaoured tooth paste will also ensure that the flavour is not a reason to be put off at brushing time!

 

Gaining Trust.

Brushing you child’s teeth has to be made enjoyable for them. Brushing twice a day for 2 minutes is ideal. So maybe try brushing to their favourite song, a flavoured toothpaste, a character toothbrush of their choice or brushing with a cuddly toy. Children like to teach and be in charge, so allow your child to teach you or their toy th best ways to brush!

Children are influenced!

Children trust their parents and are influenced by their actions. Have you ever noticed your child copying something you do? That’s because they know your actions are right so they are influenced by them. Why not brush your teeth as you little one do there’s! This will get them into a routine and will try copying your techniques.

Interacting with children.

Let them brushing your teeth! and then you can brush theres. This is something alot of parents do to ensure the teeth are getting cleaned as well as possible. Youtube have some fantastic videos with characters, songs and ryhmes children will enjoy. The videos are designed to last as long as toothbrushing should, this is so children get into a routine of brushing for 2 minutes twice a day and still find it fun and exciting. Only play the video at brushing times, so they relate the song to brusing their teeth.

It is important that children are engaging from a young age so as soon as you see a little tooth come through, introduce a toothbrush to them!

If your little one is over 12 months old, get them booked in with the dentist so they can get used to the dental environment!

Tel – 01274 633 406

What Causes Tooth Decay?

A cavity is another name for tooth decay. Which is caused when bacteria breaks down tooth enamel. Tooth decay can cause pain or can take place secretly. How can we prevent this from happening? First it is importance to understands what happens.

The main factories include:

Bacteria:

There are various types of bacteria – some destructive and some protective. It’s aim is to balance and neutralise the mouth environment.

Plaque:

Plaque is a mixture of saliva, bacteria and left over foods. The plaque tends to stick to enamel. This leaves the tooth with small white patches or holes which can lead to the dentine being damaged too.


Sugar Intake:

A high sugar intake may lead to the progression of tooth decay as sugar will sit on the tooth’s surface and if not cleaned away will begin to root the tooth, making its way to the nerve.

Food breaks down into small into small sugars which can be left on the teeth. Acid absorb minerals which cause deterioration. If acid reaches the dentine (which is much softer than enamel) it can lead to nerve pain.

Symptoms:

Sometimes there can be no symptoms for a cavity. It can fester for a long period of time before giving any signs! However, when decay reaches closer to the heart of the tooth as time goes on, you do tend to get more symptoms. These can include:

  • Sensitivity to hot and/or cold.
  • Twinges or short bursts of pain.
  • Ache – this can be dull or a throb.


How can I prevent this?

Tooth cavities can be prevented by having a diligent brushing regime and therefore bacteria and plaque can not sit on the teeth for a long period of time. Bacteria on the teeth becomes toxic after 24 hours so it is important that we are brushing well for 4 minuets each day – 2 minutes is a morning and 2 minutes on an evening.

In addition, it is important and dentist tend to stress is introducing flossing into a daily routine to ensure plaque is removed from in between the teeth as well and the areas which can be reached with a tooth brush.

Having a low sugar diet will reduce the risks of tooth decay as there is less sugar to be left harbouring on the tooth surface. This means acids will not be able to break down the tooth enamel leaving it strong and protected.

Prevention is the main factor to minimise risks of tooth decay. This is why routine check ups every 6 months are vital to help catch sign of tooth decay early to stop the progression and treat them early.

For more information of if you feel like you have a problem contact Eccleshill Dental on 01274 633 406.