Services

Thanks to good health practices and medical advances, longer life spans are making senior citizens an increasingly large segment of our population. Agility Dental has long recognized this trend and has adopted practices and trained its staff to address the comfort and careful care required for high quality geriatric dental treatment.

With years of experience, skilled training, specialists on hand, and knowledge of unique factors that contribute to senior dental problems, Agility Dental has placed itself at the forefront of senior care.

By offering in-office, House Call, hospital, or emergency treatment and all sedation options, Agility Dental has equipped its practice to readily handle nearly any geriatric treatment event that might arise.
Because an inability to travel is often a factor with senior patients, Agility Dental’s House Call service is of particular value to them.

When travel to a dental office by a patient is an issue, Agility Dental is completely equipped and experienced to travel to a patient’s home, assisted living facility, or hospital and administer needed treatment, or if necessary, can arrange for the patient’s transport to a hospital or dental office.

Agility Dental takes pride in serving and has been designed to serve our senior citizens with the best dental treatment possible.

WE OFFER A FULL SPECTRUM OF SLEEP (SEDATION) DENTISTRY OPTIONS

There are a number of reasons why our patients may need sedation while undergoing treatment. A patient may have:

• Severe Fear or Phobia
• Cognitive or General Anxiety Disorders
• Sensitive Gag Reflex
• Medical or age-related conditions that compromise his/her ability to remain still enough to ensure the utmost safety during treatment

AGILITY DENTAL SAN FRANCISCO OFFERS THE FOLLOWING SEDATION OPTIONS:

CONSCIOUS SEDATION (AWAKE AND AWARE)

Conscious sedation is also known as “relaxation” or “comfortable” dentistry. For patients with minimal anxiety or fear, it can be achieved with nitrous oxide. For patients exhibiting mild fear, a mild gag reflex, or for simpler/quicker procedures, conscious sedation can also be achieved with an oral sedative such as valium. Each option can be used alone, or may be combined to customize the level and duration of sedation.

Nitrous Oxide (inhalation sedation): Used for over 100 years, nitrous oxide is an excellent analgesic administered via a nasal hood, and can be easily fine-tuned by the dentist. All bodily functions remain essentially normal, and effects wear off quickly.

Oral Conscious Sedation: The patient self-administers, usually about an hour before treatment. After consulting with us, we will determine the most appropriate oral sedation medication and dosage based upon your health history and necessary duration of action. An added bonus of this option is that it has an amnesiac that leaves a patient with little or no memory after treatment.

DEEP CONSCIOUS SEDATION (ASLEEP AND UNAWARE)

Deep conscious sedation options exist for patients who need to take sedation to the next level because of extreme phobia, physical, developmental, or mental/emotional limitations that prevent them from being able to remain still and/or cooperative for procedures.

I.V. (intravenous) Sedation: Known as “conscious, or deep conscious sedation” patients feel they are sleeping, but can still respond to direction or inquiry. Sedation is administered directly into the bloodstream intravenously with more potent drugs than used for oral conscious sedation. This option will impact bodily functions and requires specialized monitoring equipment.

UNCONSCIOUS SEDATION (ASLEEP AND UNAWARE)

Unconscious sedation may also be indicated for patients who require multiple treatments that they would like addressed in as few sittings as possible.

General Anesthesia and Hospital Dentistry: In-office treatment, even with IV sedation, may not be a viable option for some patients with extreme phobia or afflictions such as Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s or perhaps major trauma. For these types of patients, in order to have complete medical attention immediately available for the patient’s comfort, and to enable the dentist to perform the necessary treatment, hospital anesthesia may be necessary. This option is appropriate for patients who have the most severe phobia or physical/ developmental conditions, including severe gag reflexes. General anesthesia must be performed by an anesthesiologist and requires a hospital affiliation. Once anesthetized, a patient is in a complete state of unconsciousness during treatment. The patient will have no sensation or memory of the treatment. Patients with treatment needs that span a number of hours may find general anesthesia the most comfortable option for sedation, and in most cases they can return home safely within 2-4 hours after their procedures.