Monday, June 27, 2011

A More Comfortable Procedure: Conscious Sedation


Conscious Sedation - Halcion (Triazolam)

This type of sedation is an option we offer our patients. Halcion or Triazolam induces an altered state of consciousness to allow your body and mind to relax during a surgical procedure. Patients who receive conscious sedation usually are able to speak and respond to verbal cues throughout the procedure, communicating any discomfort they experience to the provider. A brief period of amnesia may erase any memory of the procedure. Conscious sedation is extremely safe when administered by a qualified provider such as Dr. Sutor.

Because patients can slip into a deep sleep, proper monitoring of conscious sedation is necessary. Dr. Sutor and his qualified assistants monitor patient heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, oxygen level and alertness throughout and after the procedure.

Written postoperative care instructions are given to our patients prior to your surgical appointment so that you may provide this information to your caretaker and/or driver as well. Patients should not drive a vehicle, operate dangerous equipment or make any important decisions for at least 24 hours after receiving conscious sedation. Patient's must have a caretaker be with them from the time they take the medication and throughout the day of the procedure to ensure that they are safe and have the medication and care that they need post-operatively. A follow-up phone call is made by Dr. Sutor the evening of the procedure to check on the patient's condition and answer any remaining questions.

One of the best benefits of conscious sedation is that it allows patients to recover quickly and resume normal daily activities in a shorter period of time than an IV sedation.

Our ultimate responsibility is to your comfort and safety while you are in our care. If instructions are followed properly, conscious sedation can be a great way for you to go through a procedure in our office.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Dental Implants - Description & The Consultation


Dental implants are artificial tooth roots used to support a restoration for a missing tooth or teeth, helping to stop or prevent jaw bone loss.

People who have lost teeth might feel too self-conscious to smile or talk. Additionally, biting irregularities caused by tooth loss can have a negative effect on eating habits, leading to secondary health problems like malnutrition.

By replacing missing tooth roots, dental implants provide people with the strength and stability required to eat all the foods they love, without struggling to chew. Additionally, dental implants stimulate and maintain jaw bone, preventing bone loss and helping to maintain facial features.

Some reasons teeth are lost because of tooth decay, root canal failure, gum disease (periodontitis), trauma to the mouth, excessive wear and tear, or congential defects.

To determine if implants are right for you, a consultation with your dentist, and/or Dr. Sutor is needed. During this appointment, Dr. Sutor will thoroughly examine your teeth and gums and evaluate bone density and quantity. This may involve X-rays and computer tomography scans (CT scans) to ensure there is sufficient bone structure for placing the implant(s), and to determine exactly where the implant should be placed.

Based on the condition of your oral tissues, oral hygiene and personal habits, and commitment to follow aftercare instructions, your dentist will advise you of the most appropriate dental implant treatment plan. Some patients with insufficient bone or gum tissue require bone or soft tissue grafts and/or the use of small diameter implants (also called mini implants).

Depending on your situation, Dr. Sutor will advise you of how long the entire treatment process will take, how many appointments will be necessary and what you can expect after each procedure. During the consultation, options for local anesthesia (to numb the affected and surrounding areas) and sedation dentistry, if necessary, also will be discussed.

Dr. Sutor believes strongly in making sure everyone knows their treatment options regarding dental implants, so he provides all of our implant consultations complimentary.

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

NEWLY REDESIGNED WEBSITE ANNOUNCEMENT!


It Is Here!

New Website Announcement!

We are proud to announce the release of our newly redesigned website for Periodontics & Dental Implant Center of Southern Indiana - Dr. Mark Sutor. By updating our main site, www.sutordds.com, we’ve been able to improve navigation, connect more visitors with our practice and provide more detailed information about the services that we provide.

Thursday, June 2, 2011

HYGIENE STUDY CLUB

Continuing Dr. Sutor's passion for continuing education, we have started up our Hygiene Study Club once again! This continuing education study club is a wonderful way for our local hygienists here in Bloomington and surrounding areas to connect with each other, learn what is new in clinical products and technology and earn many of their needed continuing education hours without even leaving their backyard! For convenience and comfort, all meetings are held at Dr. Sutor's office. Our year runs this year from March thru November with a total of 4 meetings with our hygienists discussing everything from legal documentation, to anatomy/pathology using 3-D technology, and treatment planning sessions. We had a great group join us in March for our first meeting! There are still spaces available for this study club year if you are a hygienist or know a hygienist that could benefit from this unique program! Call Cindy for more information at 812-333-4550!