Dental clinics of North America
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Dent. Clin. North Am. · Apr 1999
Review Historical ArticleOffice-based anesthesia in dentistry. Past, present, and future trends.
The history of office-based anesthesia dates back to the discovery of nitrous oxide and ether in the 1840s. In recent years, advances in intravenous anesthetic techniques and the rising costs of hospital-based services have combined to promote the practice of ambulatory anesthesia. ⋯ The future of office-based anesthesia in dentistry appears bright. Its development, however, will be influenced by organized dentistry, medical anesthesia, and other groups interested in pain and anxiety control, and state legislatures reacting to public demands for both safe and cost-effective anesthesia care.
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Many patients can benefit by having dental procedures carried out with conscious sedation administered by the oral or inhalation routes. Dentists who employ these techniques must be familiar with the pharmacology of the agents selected, cognizant of the risks and benefits of the technique employed, and able to manage adverse events that may arise with its use. Careful patient selection and prudent administration of one of the drugs described here is the basis for successful use of these techniques.
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Dent. Clin. North Am. · Jan 1999
ReviewEvaluation for tooth stabilization and treatment of traumatized teeth.
Thorough evaluation and correct treatment of traumatized teeth improve their chances for survival. This article provides an overview clinical evaluation and how best to treat the tooth that has been traumatized. The rationale and techniques for tooth stabilization of the traumatized tooth will also be presented.
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Dent. Clin. North Am. · Oct 1998
Case ReportsEsthetic dentistry in the twenty-first century. Healthy beauty.
The goal of esthetic dentistry in the twenty-first century is to attain healthy beauty by harmonizing morphology and function. Morphologic beauty is achieved by using restorative techniques such as ceramo-metal restoration, all-ceramic restoration, laminate veneer, bleaching, and the treatment of malocclusion. Functional beauty is obtained by facilitating the primary functions of the stomatognathic organ, namely, mastication, speech, and craniomandibular stability. In the next century, esthetic dentistry must combine the present focus of morphologic beauty with the goals of functional beauty to attain true, healthy beauty.
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Toothache is a common complaint in the dental office. Most toothaches have their origin in the pulpal tissues or periodontal structures. These odontogenic pains are managed well and predictably by dental therapies. ⋯ Spontaneous multiple toothaches. 6. Local anesthetic blocking of the suspected tooth does not eliminate the pain. 7. Failure to respond to reasonable dental therapy of the tooth.