Wednesday, July 28, 2010

IV Sedation: What Makes it Different?

We've previously discussed an exciting service we now offer at Stiles Dentistry, IV sedation dentistry, yet many patients may not be aware of what makes IV sedation different than other forms of sedation.

You'll commonly see dental practices that offer sedation dentistry, however this is often quite different than IV sedation. Many offices administer sedation in a pill form, which can be effective, but is also much less predictable than IV sedation. These forms of general sedation can cause a deep sleep or even unconsciousness to relieve the patient of any anxiety or pain they might experience otherwise. These sedation techniques require less training and certification to provide, which is part of the reason why they are more common.

IV Sedation, on the other hand, does not cause a deep sleep, and patients are conscious and responsive throughout the entire process. Our approach with IV sedation is to help patients achieve a completely relaxed state, while having little memory of the actual procedure. This makes IV sedation a much more reliable procedure than other techniques. Dr. Marie Stiles completed over 80 hours of work to become certified to administer the IV sedation procedure to patients. She is one of only a handful of doctors in the area to have this certification. The process is completely safe, and can be an effective way to overcome dental fears or anxieties without the complications and side effects that the more common forms of sedation can cause.

We would be happy to set up a consultation with you to discuss the sedation procedure we provide, and answer any questions or concerns you may have. Don't let anxiety or fear stop you from achieving a beautiful, healthy smile at Stiles Dentistry, call us today!

Friday, July 23, 2010

Stiles Dentistry Gives Back to The Community

Besides providing quality dental care to our patients, we at Stiles Dentistry believe it important to give back to our community in the Kentlands, Gaithersburg and surrounding regions. Both Drs. Stiles and the entire team are involved in various community organizations and events. If you remember back in May, we participated at the Kentlands Day, a special community event that helps support the Kentlands Community Foundation. Dr. Dennis Stiles currently serves as the vice president with this non-profit organization, which aims to provide education, outreach, and cultural arts support to the community.

Both Drs. Dennis & Marie Stiles also volunteer time every Friday to teach at the University of Maryland Dental School in Baltimore. They also donate their services to organizations such as the Dental Health Federation, which provides pro bono dental care to individuals in need.

In the past we held a community dental health lecture and VELscope cancer screening in September, which was an great opportunity to connect with the community and help individuals take charge of their oral health!

These are just a few examples of how the Stiles Dentistry team takes an interest in the community. Feel free to ask us about our other community related activities on your next visit!

Friday, July 16, 2010

Smile Restoration at Stiles Dentistry



Listen as this patient tells his story of past dental work, and the need to restore his smile after so many years. He called us at Stiles Dentistry to formulate a treatment plan for restoring his smile just in time for his daughter's wedding. He couldn't be happier with the results!

Watch his video testimonial above, and then take a look at the his smile before and after his procedure at Stiles Dentistry.


Before



After

Friday, July 9, 2010

One Article Suggests the Connection Between Oral Hygiene and Heart Health

Here at Stiles Dentistry, we are always encouraging our patients to maintain a high standard of oral health, especially with the past studies linking oral health with heart health. A study was recently published to determine the relationship between daily oral hygiene and heart health. An 8 year study tracking oral hygiene habits and the likelihood of heart problems found that individuals who "rarely" or "never" brushed their teeth had a much higher chance of a heart problem - 70% higher in fact! Take a look at the article by clicking here.

How strong is your daily oral hygiene routine? If you aren't brushing twice a day and flossing at least once, you should be!

Friday, July 2, 2010

Why Visit Stiles Dentistry?


Some of the patients at Stiles Dentistry are not always from the Gaithersburg area, and are willing to drive from quite a ways to receive the great care they've come to expect from our office. While we strive to make our location and hours convenient for everyone, we are humbled by patients like these who go out of their way to see us-- it really makes it all worthwhile!

Have a safe and relaxing Fourth of July!

--Stiles Family Dentistry