925 Haddon Avenue
Collingswood, NJ 08108
Phone:
856-858-2871 or toll-free 800-858-2820
Fax:
856-858-7169
According to the National Institute of Health, more than 20 million Americans avoid dentistry out of fear. At Thurm Dental, we recognize that the fear of dentistry is real and not to be taken lightly. Patients who have this fear are treated with compassion and respect. More than 20 years of experience has proven that we can succeed with the patient's cooperation and desire to improve their dental health.
During dental and oral surgical procedures local anesthesia (Novocain) is administered to block sensations. However, the anxiety that some people have can be controlled by administering sedative drugs, such as Valium type medications. A sedated patient may remember the procedures, but will be more relaxed. Additional medications such as agents similar to Pentothal are sometimes used to cause anesthesia, which places the patient more deeply asleep.
The most popular option for controlling anxiety is total intravenous anesthesia or sleep dentistry. For these visits, pre-operative instructions are identical to those used when one has surgery in the hospital. The patient must fast for 8 hours prior to the appointment and be driven home. A combination of medications are administered through an intravenous line which places the patient in a “sleep state.”
The use of sedation and anesthesia in dentistry has a commendable record of safety. This is due to the advanced training your doctor has and his/her commitment to your overall health. It is important to advise your doctor of all medications that you take as well as any changes in your health since your last visit.
In most states, a special permit is required to administer intravenous medications. In order to qualify your doctor had to provide evidence of advanced training in anesthesia and often a site visit is required. The ability to handle emergency situations as well as having specific emergency medications and equipment is also mandatory. Find out more about Dr. Thurm’s training.
Most patients who have neglected their dental health out of fear require quite a bit of corrective work. The average appointment length for these procedures is two hours. But with the new drugs available for sedation, patients have no recall of their entire visit.
Use of anesthesia allows the dental team to accomplish a great deal of dental work in one visit. While that is our goal, in some cases this is not always possible. When required, Dr. Thurm will call on other dental specialists to participate in the case such as endodontists (root canal specialists) and periodontists (gum specialists).
While Dr. Thurm is completing the dental work on the patient, the anesthetist is administering the necessary anesthetics intravenously (IV), and keeping a close watch on the patient’s vital signs, including EKG, blood pressure, and oxygen levels.
After completing his training in Anesthesiology in 1980 at the Hospital of the Medical College of Pennsylvania, Dr. Thurm became one of a small group of general dentists throughout the country certified in this field. He is a Fellow of the American Dental Society of Anesthesiology, certifying his training in the field of dental anesthesiology. Find out more.
Working with a highly specialized staff including a certified registered nurse anesthetist, Dr. Thurm has his own mini operating room with the same monitors used in hospitals to keep patients safe.
The fear of dentistry should be a thing of the past. Saving teeth and enjoying them for a lifetime is readily available for anyone who wants to take that step. To schedule an appointment, call our office at 856-858-2871.
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