Dr. Brian Hale's San Antonio Cosmetic Dentistry Blog

The goal of sedation dentistry is to use anti-anxiety medication, nitrous oxide and other drugs to relieve stress and fear and make visiting the dentist a more relaxing experience. Whether you need sedation for small procedures or large ones, it has greatly helped people who would normally not go to the dentist.

There are many reasons why people avoid the care of their mouth and gums. An estimated 30 percent of the population avoids their dentist because of their fears. Some of the reasons include:

• A traumatic dental experience in the past
• They have some kind of dental anxiety
• Embarrassed about their teeth or need a lot of work done at once
• Difficulty getting numb
• Very complex procedures
• Extremely sensitive teeth or sensitive gag reflex
• They are in denial of their dental problems

There are basically four types of sedation that Dr. Hale might use:

• Oral sedative
• Nitrous oxide (laughing gas)
• IV sedation
• General anesthesia

Oral sedatives and nitrous oxide are the most common, making the patient relaxed and comfortable while the procedure takes place. The effects work quickly and they wear off quickly so the patient can normally get home on their own. IV sedation and general anesthesia are reserved for more complicated issues.

If you live in San Antonio, Texas, and would like to learn more about sedation dentistry, please contact Dr. Brian Hale, a graduate from the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies, where he can answer all your questions.

Do you fear or have anxiety when you think of going to the dentist. You are not alone. An estimated 30 percent of the population avoids the dentist because of their dental phobias. If you have been putting off the dentist, then sedation dentistry can get you back on track. The goal of sedation dentistry is for the patient to have an anxiety free visit and take the fear out of visiting the dentist.

Whether you need a lot of work done at once or you would just like routine care, sedation techniques can help you on your path. Oral sedatives and nitrous oxide are the most popular forms of sedation. You will feel a slight sense of euphoria and relaxation, while still being conscious. However, after the procedure you will barely have any memory of it. Many times you can get home on your own, once the sedation wears off.

For more serious dental procedures there is IV sedation and general anesthesia. IV sedation is a lot like oral sedatives but is administered through an IV, giving a quicker more stable effect. Complicated dental procedures sometimes require general anesthesia, in which the patient will "go under" and have no recollection of anything.

Sedation dentistry is giving people with dental phobias the chance to receive normal dental care. This is important because the mouth and gums are indicators of your overall health. If you neglect your mouth, then you might be risking serious problems down the road.

Are you considering sedation dentistry? If you live in San Antonio, Texas please contact Dr. Brian Hale today to schedule a consultation.

When you visit Hale Dental, your oral health is our number one priority. We are devoted to providing you with personalized, gentle care for the whole family.

Family dentistry provides services related to the general maintenance of oral hygiene and tooth health. A family dentist provides oral health care for young children to seniors. Some dentists, however, restrict their practice to a certain age group. Pedodontists, for example, provide oral care to young children.

Family dentists care for a range of patients—from children to older adults. These dentists make sure that:

• Tooth decay is eliminated
• Plaque buildup around the teeth is kept to a minimum
• Cavities are filled
• Gums remain healthy

Although family dentists are often associated with preventative and restorative dentistry, many pursue additional training in order to provide cosmetic dentistry services. These services include things like teeth whitening procedures and porcelain veneers. Dentists who perform cosmetic procedures normally refer to themselves as family and cosmetic dentists.

Family and cosmetic dentists have more training than typical family dentists, though they might refer some patients to other dentists if specialized treatments are required.

These specialists can include:

• Orthodontists—for teeth straightening
• Endodontists—for more complex root canal treatments
• Prosthodontists—for more complex crowns or for dental implants
• Maxillofacial surgeons—for oral surgery

If you are considering cosmetic dentistry in San Antonio or the surrounding area, please call or e-mail us today to schedule your initial consultation with Dr. Brian Hale.

Even though they will eventually lose their baby teeth, infants and children are not resistant to oral health problems. In 2002, a report of the Surgeon General found that tooth decay and cavities were five times more common than asthma among children.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2005 found that tooth decay is the most chronic disease among children ages 5 to 17. Oral problems among infants are of equal seriousness.

One of the main reasons for this is diet. The sugars found in sweet foods are just one problem. The sugars found in the following foods can also negatively impact a child's oral health:

Milk
Juice
Starches (chips and pretzels)

It is also more difficult to clean a child's teeth. This leads to bacteria growth and ultimately—tooth decay.

Although baby teeth (also called deciduous or primary teeth) are eventually replaced with permanent teeth, healthy baby teeth are fundamental to a child's overall health and development.

The following is a list of dental care necessities from birth on up:

Baby Teeth Cleaning - Baby teeth should be cleaned as soon as they erupt. Clean your baby's teeth with a soft washcloth or gauze after every bottle or meal. Use water without fluoride until approximately six months of age. Encourage your children to brush their own teeth once they have the coordination to do so (usually by age seven). Replace toothbrushes every two to three months.

First Dental Visit - It is important that your child see a dentist by age one to establish a long-term dental hygiene and professional dental cleaning plan.

Fluoride Treatments - Fluoride is a major component in the prevention of childhood dental caries. This is because fluoride alters the molecular structure of the tooth, making it more resistant to acid attack and decay.

Dental Flossing - Parent-assisted dental flossing should begin when two teeth erupt next to each other. Independent flossing should occur when children have the ability to do it on their own (usually by age 6).

Mouth Washing - Recommended by age seven, provided your child can perform the activity.

If you are considering cosmetic dentistry in San Antonio or the surrounding area, please call or e-mail us today to schedule your initial consultation with Brian Hale, D.D.S.

It is not uncommon if you hear a faint ringing or humming in your ears from time to time.
But if the ringing is incessant, you may have a condition called tinnitus.

At least 50 million Americans have experienced tinnitus (either short term or long term) at some point in their lives, estimates the American Tinnitus Association. While some people simply get used to it, others find it intolerable and hindering to their quality of life.

Tinnitus can be caused by the strain temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ/TMD) puts on the muscles of the inner ear. The noise that goes along with tinnitus can be heard in one ear (most common in TMD-related tinnitus), both ears or in the middle of your head. It can also be tough to identify exactly where the noise is coming from. The sound can be a range of pitches and a single noise or a muffled sound with multiple components.

Most tinnitus is a continuous noise, although there is another type called pulsatile tinnitus where you may hear a pulsing sound in your ears. If this is the case, your tinnitus may be related to high blood pressure to vascular disease instead of TMD. Regardless, you should have it checked out.

If you live in the San Antonio area and are suffering from ringing in your ears, please contact neuromuscular dentist Dr. Brian Hale today to set up your consultation. Be on your way to a pain-free lifestyle. Call today.

Yes, the idea seems a bit unorthodox; treating pain with electricity. But in actuality the Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulator (TENS) is a safe and effective way to combat pain associated with temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ/TMD).

TENS is a device that has been successfully used for more than three decades. It works by administering an electrical current that relaxes the muscles and allows your jaw to fall into its optimal resting position. TENS works immediately; the minute it is applied the pain relief begins.

If you do suffer from TMD, you will probably find TENS to play a significant role in your treatment plan. Dental appliances can be used to move your jaw into its ideal position, but that is a process and takes time. TENS is the way to enjoy instantaneous pain relief that can last for hours.

If you are suffering from TMD and you live in the San Antonio area, please contact neuromuscular dentist Dr. Brian Hale. We can help you determine if TENS is right for you. Please call today to set up your consultation.

A neuromuscular dentist who graduated from the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies is one of the most highly trained dentists in the field.

An LVI graduate can help alleviate symptoms of the painful temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ/TMD). These symptoms can range from headaches and jaw pain to difficulty chewing and pain radiating down your neck and into your shoulders.

Millions of Americans suffer from the symptoms of TMD, but are unaware what the underlying cause is. Often times, their symptoms are either misdiagnosed or dismissed as having no physiological cause.

An LVI graduate has the training and expertise to not only identify your condition, but to develop a treatment plan to alleviate your painful symptoms. Whether it's wearing an orthotic at night to align your bite, or the use of dental crowns or inlays and onlays to raise your teeth so that your bite is at a relaxed position, you will be able to find relief with the help of an LVI graduate.

Please contact LVI graduate Dr. Brian Hale today to set up your consultation.