Services Provided

SSCD is a full-service dental office.

We provide comprehensive care for just about any patient, healthy or not. We are very comfortable treating patients with the following conditions:

  • Pre-transplant clearances and post-transplant immunosuppression support
  • Oncologic support including pre-, intra- and post-chemotherapy and radiation care
  • Hemophilia and other bleeding disorders
  • Blood product infusion support (platelets, red blood cells, factors, FFP, etc.)
  • Heart failure, dysrhythmias, pre-valve replacements and devices
  • Pulmonary disorders including oxygen and/or ventilator-dependent patients
  • Kidney disorders, particularly dialysis patients
  • Liver disorders (alcoholic, autoimmune and viral hepatitis)
  • Diabetes, both Type I and Type II, all severities
  • Immunocompromised patients
  • High-risk pregnancy
  • Neurologic disorders (Parkinson's, Multiple Sclerosis, Huntington's, etc.)
  • Neurodevelopmental disorders including developmental delay (Autism, Downs, etc.)
  • Psychiatric illness, including Alzheimer's and schizophrenia
  • Dental Phobia
  • Those desiring IV Sedation and General Anesthesia (see below)
  • And more; there are very few patients that we cannot find a way to help.

Dental services provided:

We perform most aspects of dentistry in our office, including:

  • Diagnostic examinations and X-rays
  • Cleaning/Hygiene services
  • Restorative/Esthetic dentistry (fillings, crowns, bridges, veneers)
  • Root canals
  • Extractions and pre-prosthetic surgery
  • Implants (placement and restoration)
  • Dentures (complete and partial)
  • Pediatric dentistry

Sedation and General Anesthesia

We provide many choices for your comfort during dental care:

  • Nitrous Oxide sedation ("Laughing gas")
    Properly used, nitrous oxide can give a very comfortable, mild-moderate sedation. Most people select this when they want to take off an edge of anxiety, and having awareness of the procedure is acceptable. Nitrous oxide is quickly reversible and patients can drive home after experiencing it.
  • Oral sedation
    This kind of mild-moderate sedation can provide relaxation, peacefulness, and possibly amnesia of the dental visit. We like to select from several different medications depending upon what outcomes we desire. We usually combine the oral sedation with a bit of nitrous oxide for better effect. It is important that you have an escort if you use oral sedatives.
  • Intravenous sedation
    Intravenous sedation provides a greater depth of sedation, but not as complete as general anesthesia. We generally suggest this for extensive procedures (such as extractions) and for patients who have higher levels of anxiety. Many of our developmentally disabled patients can be treated with IV sedation. This approach is very safe and our doctors have considerable training and experience providing it.
  • General Anesthesia in our Office
    General anesthesia has the benefit of being very safe for patients. It provides an opportunity to care for patients who might otherwise have difficulty tolerating dental treatment. In fact, there are times when using general anesthesia is the most appropriate and efficient way of rendering dental care. These include:
    • Difficulties with cooperation (young children, autistic and other developmentally disabled patients, Alzheimer's, etc.)
    • Phobic/high dental anxiety patients
    • Patients with extensive treatment necessary
    • Patients who desire to finish most or all of their dental care in one day

    Our office is uniquely designed to provide this service. We have a state-of-the-art anesthesia machine, a full emergency cart, and well-trained doctors/staff. Our medical anesthesiologist is very experienced in the care of adult and children patients. Using general anesthesia in our office is certainly less costly and easier than doing so in the hospital operating room.
  • General Anesthesia in the Hospital Operating Room
    Some of our patients are best treated in the hospital setting, based upon their medical condition. We have regular operating room time at Swedish Medical Center and are able to admit patients if necessary for recovery.

To summarize, with many choices available from nitrous oxide sedation to hospital care, we can find a way to accommodate virtually any patient regardless of their complexity. At your initial consultation visit, your doctor will discuss these options in greater detail and help you decide which one(s) might be best for you.

We have been very successful using sedation and general anesthesia in our practice. This has allowed a vast number of patients to receive comfortable, high-quality dental care when it otherwise may have been difficult or impossible.