Dental Emergencies
Your toothache or a problem is our TOP PRIORITY. If something can be done (a procedure), we will stay as long as it takes that day to get you out of pain
so that you can sleep that night. Our emergency fee is the lowest in the area – $87.
- Within one hour of you getting to our office – you are established as a patient and an x-ray is usually taken – Free of charge (If someone else is in much higher discomfort and in dire emergency, they are placed ahead of you but you are informed promptly).
- Dr. Kaushesh fits you in between his regularly scheduled patient’s and as soon as he can, gives you an exam (Free) and tells you what treatment he can perform for you.
- Treatments that can be performed the same day usually includeExtractions (oral surgery), Fillings, Temporary Crown, Temporary Bridge, Partial Root Canals, Drainiage of infection, Deep cleanings, immediate implants, Bite adjustments, Special mouthguard fabrication for jaw pain, Denture adjustments, Denture repairs (if you walk in early in the morning), Denture Relines etc.
What Kinds of Procedures can I walk-in for?
- Tooth ache
- Abscess
- Cavity
- Broken Tooth
- Broken Crown
- Crowns, bridges, implants that come off
- Swelling
- Jaw ache
- Lip and Mouth sores
- ill fitting denture
- Broken denture
- Broken partial
- Wisdom teeth problems
- Cuts
- Trauma
- Teeth falling out
- And anything else in your mouth that is an emergency to you!
Can you provide IV or Oral Sedation for me if I walk in?
Please review these pre-requisites for IV and Oral Sedation:
IV (and pill) sedation is EXTREMELY safe when carried out under the supervision of a specially-trained dentist. Purely statistically speaking, it’s even safer than local anaesthetic on its own!
However, contraindications include pregnancy, known allergy to benzos, alcohol intoxication, CNS depression, and some instances of glaucoma. Cautions include psychosis, impaired lung or kidney or liver function, and advanced age. Heart disease is generally not a contraindication. Patients who have obstructive sleep apnea and/or obstructed airways due to a disease or severe obesity also do not qualify for IV and pill sedation; for them, a light anxiolysis by valium or Hancion is indicated.
What are the main advantages of IV sedation?
- IV (and pill) sedation tends to be the method of choice if you don’t want to be aware of the procedure – you “don’t want to know”. The alternative in the US is oral sedation using Halcion, but oral sedation is not as reliably effective as IV sedation.
- The onset of action is very rapid, and drug dosage and level of sedation can be tailored to meet the individual’s needs. This is a huge advantage compared to oral sedation, where the effects can be very unreliable. IV sedation, on the other hand, is both highly effective and higly reliable.
- The maximum level of sedation which can be reached with IV is deeper than with oral or inhalation sedation.
- Benzos produce amnesia for the procedure.
- The gag reflex is hugely diminished – people receiving IV sedation rarely experience difficulty with gagging. However, if minimizing a severe gag reflex is the main objective, inhalation sedation is usually tried first. Only if that fails to diminish the gag reflex should IV sedation be used for this purpose.
- Can be ideal for those with a phobia of dental injections.
- Unlike General Anaesthesia or Deep Sedation, conscious IV sedation doesn’t really introduce any compromises per se in terms of carrying out the actual procedures, because people are conscious and they can cooperate with instructions, and there is no airway tube involved.
Are there any disadvantages?
- A very thin catheder has to be put in the arm or hand (“venipuncture”). If you have a general phobia of very thin needles, this isn’t much fun but good news is – most people don’t “feel” this part because of a numbing agent applied to your skin and the gentle techique Dr. Kaushesh uses. If you cannot tolerate this, having inhalation sedation (“laughing gas”) before the venipuncture helps a lot, because it relaxes you and produces a tingling feeling in arms and legs which distracts from the venipuncture.
- It is possible to experience complications at the site where the needle entered, for example hematoma (a localized swelling filled with blood) – all of which usually clears up in just a few days without any major complications.
- While IV sedation is desired precisely because of the amnesia effect (i. e. forgetting what happened while under the influence of the drug/s), there can be a downside to this: if you can’t remember that the procedure wasn’t uncomfortable or threatening, you can’t unlearn your fears. However, it depends on the precise nature of your phobia and the underlying causes to which extent this may be a problem. Some people would voice a concern that some patients can’t be “weaned off” IV sedation, as dental anxiety tends to returns to baseline levels. As a result, people who rely on IV sedation may be less likely to seek regular dental care. Other people would argue that this is not a concern if IV sedation is readily available to people.
- Recovery from IV administered drugs is not complete at the end of dental treatment. You need to be escorted by a responsible adult, go home and rest for the remainder of the day.
- You should WANT to be sedated. If, for any reason, you’re unwilling to “let go”, for example because you don’t like not being in control, it will be more difficult to be successfully sedated.
Before IV (and oral) Sedation:
- You may not have anything to eat or drink (including water) for eight (8) hours prior to the surgery.
- If you take routine oral medications, please check with Dr. Kaushesh prior to your surgical date for instructions on which medications to take prior to your surgery
- No smoking at least 12 hours before surgery. Ideally, cut down or stop smoking as soon as possible prior to the day of surgery.
- A responsible adult must accompany the patient to the office, remain in the office during the procedure, and drive the patient home.
- The patient should not drive a vehicle or operate any machinery for 24 hours following the anesthesia experience.
- Please wear loose fitting clothing with sleeves which can be rolled up past the elbow.
- Contact lenses, jewelry, and dentures must be removed at the time of surgery.
- Do not wear lipstick, excessive makeup, nail polish or high-heeled shoes on the day of surgery.
- If you have an illness such as a cold, sore throat, stomach or bowel upset, please notify the office.
After IV (and oral) Sedation:
- Have your escort take you home and rest for the remainder of the day.
- Have an adult stay with you until you’re fully alert.
- Don’t perform any strenuous or hazardous activities and don’t drive a motor vehicle for the rest of the day.
- Don’t eat a heavy meal immediately. If you’re hungry, eat something light, e. g. liquids and toast.
- If you experience nausea, lie down for a while or drink a glass of coke.
- Don’t drink alcohol or take medications for the rest of the day unless you’ve contacted your dentist first.
- Take medications as directed by Dr. Kaushesh.
- If you have any unusual problems, call Dr. Kaushesh on his direct number (given to you on the IV sedation aftercare form) or our direct emergency number: 928-230-3602
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