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James A. Snyder, DDS, MS
The History of Sedation Dentistry
Dr. James Snyder's office in Alexandria, Virginia, serving the Washington, D.C. area, offers sedation services ranging from minimal sedation, sometimes called "sleep dentistry" or "sedation dentistry", to full general anesthesia to eliminate your stress and ensure your comfort.
The Origin of Sedation Dentistry
You have probably seen or heard advertisements in the media offering "Sleep Dentistry" or "Sedation Dentistry". The ads often state or imply that the technique offered is new or newly available. The truth is that minimizing or eliminating pain and anxiety for medical or dental care is not new or unique, but until recently most dentists offered very limited pain control in the office setting. Indeed, in 1846, dentist William T.G. Morton administered ether to a patient in front of an amazed amphitheater full of physicians and students at Harvard University. Surgeon John Warren, M.D., then proceeded to perform painless surgery, afterward proclaiming, “Gentlemen, this is no humbug," and launching the use of anesthetics in surgery. There is even a monument to ether in the Boston Public Garden (southwest corner near the ‘Cheers’ bar). So there isn’t anything new about the concept of sedation or anesthesia for painful procedures.
A fun fact is that Morton, without revealing that he was using a sulfur-ether compound, patented his "discovery" under the name “Letheon," an unfortunate choice of terms, to be sure. Morton corresponded with the famous physician, professor, and author, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr., who offered the name “anesthesia” to describe the state induced by the ether compound. Note that even in the less complex environment of the 19th century, anesthesiology was provided by a separate doctor from the surgeon.
In 1845, a year before Morton's presentation, dentist Horace Wells had attempted - unsuccessfully - to demonstrate the use of nitrous oxide as an anesthetic agent at Harvard. Although he was booed off the stage by the unimpressed audience, nitrous oxide has since become one of the most widely used forms of anesthesia in dentistry. Wells never got the credit he probably deserved, but nitrous oxide is used to this day. The gas is safe and simple to use. It is inexpensive and a good partner with other pharmacological agents (drugs and gases). It raises pain threshold – makes things hurt less and is hypnotic (makes time seem to be compressed, certain types of memory suppressed). In short: pretty good stuff!
In addition to nitrous oxide, some dentists are offering a one drug oral sedation (a pill) to help patients feel relaxed and less aware of their procedure and their pain. This is what is often called "sedation dentistry"or "sleep dentistry". Because of Dr. James Snyder's extensive training and experience, we are able to offer a much wider range of anesthesia services up to and including general anesthesia at the Center for Dental Anesthesiology. We have been doing so for over 30 years.
Contact Our Office for More Information on Sleep Dentistry and Anesthesiology
Contact our Alexandria, Virginia dental practice for more information on sleep dentistry and full dental anesthesiology in the Alexandria, Washington, D.C., Arlington and surrounding areas.