Long before Tawnya Brown discovered the joys of sedation dentistry, some traumatic experiences created an intense fear of the dental chair.

Back in her early 20s, when she needed reconstructive work, the “cosmetic” dentist she chose treated her teeth badly.

When she told him she could feel everything he did, he refused to give Tawnya more anesthetic. “He just kept going,” she says. “It was extremely scary
and painful.

“And when I went back later and told him that the bridge he’d put on hurt, he took a tool and, without Novocain, banged it off,” she recalls. “His assistant tried to stop him, warning that he might break my tooth, but he continued.

I recently lost that front tooth. It never recovered from what he did that day.”

Additionally, an individual crown that dentist made for Tawnya was done in a completely different color than the rest of her dental work. “I had a gray tooth, right in front. It didn’t look right, but he didn’t care,” she says. “So, despite my embarrassment, I never went back.”

A decade later, however, after the birth of her third child, she realized she had to try again. “I started having problems. With great hesitation, I went to see Dr. DeLuca, who was wonderful, sweet, and personable. She helped me turn my situation around.”

Difference in dentistry

Vivian C. DeLuca, DMD, an extensively trained general dentist with advanced education in oral surgery, endodontics, implant dentistry, and conscious sedation, believes in treating the whole patient.

“Our motto is Healthy smiles, healthy bodies, healthy lives,” she says. “I strive to motivate my patients back to the basics of good health by eliminating infection, then building on a healthy foundation. The positive changes snowball from there. Their teeth feel better and clean easier, they eat and sleep better, and ultimately their bodies and lifestyles become healthier.”

Dr. DeLuca considers conscious sedation one of the most valuable tools in her toolbox. “It allows me to treat patients efficiently,” she explains. “With sedation, they’re much more receptive and relaxed, which enables me to accomplish a lot more in one visit. I can take a very sick person and dramatically reduce their level of infection in just hours, while making dramatic changes in their appearance and self-esteem.”

Sedation also helps because relaxed patients don’t have that whole-body, whiteknuckled tension while in the chair. The prevention of this heightened state of anxiety results in a better, faster post-operative recovery. “Sedated patients are generally more comfortable more quickly, even after undergoing extensive procedures.”

The most important benefit, Dr. DeLuca adds, the one that attracts people to conscious sedation, is the amnesiac effect. Although not truly asleep, and
while they may appear deceptively lucid in conversation, sedation patients remember very little detail of their visit.

The sedation process

When Tawnya first started seeing Dr. DeLuca, sedation was a necessity. “I knew I had to go to the dentist, but I was scared to death. I was sedated the first few times but, after a while, I found I didn’t need it anymore.”

That progression, according to the doctor, is not uncommon. “Many patients have been traumatized in the past. Many of them insist on sedation at first, and then they become comfortable being awake for their dentistry. It’s an evolution of trust.”

The sedation process is extremely easy, Tawnya shares. “Dr. DeLuca explains and reviews everything in advance and gives you Valium to take the night before your visit so that, rather than worrying, you get a better night’s sleep. In the morning, you go in feeling much calmer.

“The doctor and assistants make you comfortable with pillows and blankets. They monitor your blood pressure throughout the procedure and give you tablets of Halcion, or Triazolam, crushed under your tongue so that your mind relaxes and you drift off.”

Strict protocols ensure both patient safety and the best possible result.

“Patients are escorted to the office by a family member or friend. No stimulants are allowed the night before or the morning of treatment that would interfere with the medications. Sedation patients are scheduled between eight and nine in the morning because they don’t eat until finished, and we get them well hydrated before they leave for home.

“Afterward, their homework is to get six hours of the best sleep they’ve probably had in years. I have them call me when they wake up, and we talk about how the procedures went and if there were any deviations.”

Amazing dental care

As Tawnya has evolved as a more confident dental patient, her progression in dentistry also extends to her career, taking her from patient to employee. After seeing Dr. DeLuca for her dental care for two years, Tawnya eventually made a career change when she was invited to join Dr. Deluca’s team as a business assistant.

In describing what made her want to work for the doctor, Tawnya’s list of reasons is long. “Dr. DeLuca is one of the most amazing people I have ever met,” she begins. “She is goodhearted and sincere, she puts patients first and, unlike most dentists I’ve been to, she listens to what you have to say and helps you with what you need.”

As an example, Tawnya remembers her own time in the dental chair. “I eventually found sedation unnecessary because, if Dr. DeLuca was working on me and I raised my hand, she would immediately stop and numb me further. No matter how much time it took, she wouldn’t restart until I was ready.”

Even more persuasive are the doctor’s interactions with Tawnya’s youngest child. “Most two-year-olds have to be sedated in order to be worked on. Dr. DeLuca is so kind and gentle that my two-year-old just hopped up in the chair, opened her mouth, and was ready to go.”

Now that she works in the office, Tawnya sees the same pattern repeated over and over. “Many people come in, just like I did, saying, No, you can’t touch me. I’m too scared of that needle. I have to be knocked out. They do sedation dentistry the first couple of times and then they see that Dr. DeLuca is so welcoming, understanding and knowledgeable, and she explains everything so that there are no surprises. Most of her patients end up not needing sedation anymore. I really think it’s a trust thing.”

Patients trust the doctor, Tawnya continues, because they are in such good hands. “Dr. DeLuca has a lot of training, and she continues to study every month because she loves what she does. If patients can’t make it there during the week, she takes time off her weekend to help, which I think is amazing.”

Since it’s part of her job as business assistant to speak to patients before their dental appointments, Tawnya has the opportunity to say a lot of good things about Dr. DeLuca. “I speak straight from the heart, but people sometimes tell me, You’re a good salesperson; you really talk her up.

But after they meet Dr. DeLuca and they have finished their appointment, they’ll say, You didn’t do her justice!”

FHCN–Brenda Klettke

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Al Rosen is big into fitness. So much so that in 1997, he founded a corporation called Tri-Fitness Challenge. His goal – to create physically challenging athletic events across the country where men, women, and children from around the world could compete and test their fitness levels.

While working one of the events a few years ago, Al met and fell in love with Bernadette, a young competitor from Canada. Several years later, he proposed marriage and she said yes. However, there was one problem: Al wanted to get his smile physically fit for his new bride before the wedding, and
he had only a few months to do so.

That’s when he turned to his dentist for help.

“I got to know Dr. DeLuca through my organization when she came to compete in a Tri-Fitness Challenge,” recalls Al.

A dental workout

Vivian C. DeLuca, DMD, an extensively trained general dentist with advanced education in oral surgery, endodontics, implant dentistry, and conscious sedation, is on a mission to educate and train men (as well as women) on the finer points of home dental care.

“I want men to realize just how much their oral health impacts their overall health,” notes Dr. DeLuca.

“Our motto is Healthy smiles, healthy bodies, healthy lives,” she continues. “I strive to motivate my patients back to the basics of good health by eliminating infection, then building on a healthy foundation. The positive changes snowball from there. Their teeth feel better and clean easier, they eat and sleep better, and ultimately, their bodies and lifestyles become healthier.”

When Dr. DeLuca first saw Al as a patient back in 2009, she conducted a thorough oral examination and started him on the road to healthier gums. Now,
to achieve his goal for the wedding, he would need some extensive work done under conscious sedation in order to once again have a healthy, youthful
smile. Over the years, Al has had several teeth extracted and had a history of periodontal disease, a common problem among men, and women, who don’t get regular exams and cleanings.

“Although Al has cleaned up his brushing technique over the years, many of my patients who’ve let their oral hygiene go, who haven’t had their teeth cleaned in five to fifteen years, when they open their mouth, their breath smells really sour,” explains Dr. DeLuca.

“That’s the smell of diseased bone we call periodontal disease. It has a very pungent odor. And, this infection is transmissible.”

“Men who have periodontal disease, when they kiss their wives or girlfriends, they’re doing more than swapping spit; they’re swapping the disease that causes gingivitis and periodontitis and cavities.”

To get Al ready for his wedding, the dentist started him on a periodontal therapy and focused on ways to better care for his mouth that fit into his busy schedule.

Dr. DeLuca reports, “The purpose for brushing and flossing our teeth is to remove the sticky plaque because that’s where bacteria live. Unfortunately, a lot of people think if they stick a toothbrush in their mouth and swish it around for two minutes, they’re doing what they’re supposed to do.

“The problem is, when patients brush in this manner, they’re brushing the same spots and missing the same spots, leaving a significant amount of bacteria and plaque in their mouth.”

One piece of advice patients routinely receive at Impeccable Smiles is to incorporate the daily use of Listerine in their oral care routine.

“I teach my patients not only to rinse with Listerine (any flavor) but also to brush with it before they use toothpaste.

Now, there is Listerine Zero (with no alcohol),” says Dr. DeLuca.

The reason she likes it, she says, is that Listerine efficiently melts off the sticky plaque on our teeth. “I’ve found that brushing with a wet toothbrush and toothpaste doesn’t take off the plaque as easily. Put some Listerine in a cup, dip a dry toothbrush in it, and then brush where the teeth meet the gums.

“Also, brush the Listerine on the outside and inside of each tooth, as well as the flat surfaces. When you’re done, rinse. Then, using your tongue, feel along each tooth for any remaining sticky spots that you have missed.”

Al says that until he met Dr. DeLuca, he didn’t know how effective using Listerine and flossing was for maintaining a clean, healthy mouth and healthy body.

“Now, besides brushing with toothpaste and flossing, I’m brushing with Listerine,” says Al. “Dr. DeLuca says my gums have really improved.”

“Al has been wonderfully compliant,” adds Dr. DeLuca. “Additionally, he’s improving the health of his wife, Bernadette, because he has shared his newfound knowledge with her. In fact, Al told me he doesn’t let Bernadette into bed unless she’s cleaned and flossed.” She is getting braces next.

Dental wedding planner

With Al’s periodontal disease under control, the dentist moved on to the task of creating his new smile in time for the nuptials.

“Al first needed bridgework done on the back teeth,” explains Dr. DeLuca. “When he saw what those were going to look like, he asked if I could also fix
his front teeth.

“He told me, I really want my wedding to rock, and so I had to quickly do some dental work to help him achieve that goal. We decided on temporary crowns and veneers so that he’d be all smiles for his wedding pictures, then we could take our time to complete his smile reconstruction properly.”

Al confides that Dr. DeLuca has had to repair quite a few of his teeth.

“In addition to the veneers, she put in upper and lower crowns and bridges, removed old silver fillings, and did a root canal. I’m also getting implants.”

During his more extensive dental procedures, Al underwent conscious sedation, an option that Dr. DeLuca considers one of her most valuable tools.

“It allows me to treat patients efficiently,” she explains. “With sedation, they’re much more receptive and relaxed, which enables me to accomplish a lot more in one visit. I can take a very sick person and dramatically reduce their level of infection in just hours, while making dramatic changes in their appearance and self-esteem. What a life change!”

The dentist also treats her patients with care when it comes to scheduling appointments, something Al appreciates. His job often has him traveling across the country and he can’t always make it to the office during regular hours.

“Dr. DeLuca is accommodating,” shares Al. “She worked around my busy schedule.”

“For major work like this, my patients and I make a plan together to get what they need done,” notes Dr. DeLuca.

“Sometimes that means thinking outside the box scheduling wise.”

For Al, the positive change in his appearance has made all the visits to Impeccable Smiles worthwhile.

“Each time I went to the office, I found the entire environment comfortable. Dr. DeLuca is a very gentle dentist and very considerate of her patients. And, she has a great team.”

Dr. DeLuca has a message for men who’ve been putting off dental care. “Before things progress too far, focus on yourself for a change and visit a dentist! Al is a perfect example of why that’s important to do. Once he took control of his oral health, his blood pressure went down and his blood sugar improved.”

In addition to her assistance in improving his health, Al notes that the dentist has done something for him that no other dentist did before.

“Dr. DeLuca is in the process of giving me a million-dollar smile!”

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First, implants should be cleaned by dental professionals about every four months. The reasoning behind this, according to Dr. DeLuca, is to protect your investment. If a problem is discovered early, within four months, the doctor stresses, quick intervention can prevent complications that could cause the implant to fail. By waiting six or more months between examinations, patients risk problems escalating and resulting in bone or implant loss.

Additionally, if the patient’s hygiene or health is not as it should be, dentists are better able to pick up on the signs at four-month intervals, ultimately prolonging the life of the implants.

Finally, daily brushing is crucial. Electronic toothbrushes are particularly helpful, Dr. DeLuca shares, and patients need to remember that inconsistent hygiene is a recipe for failure. Once the investment of time and money has been made in dental implants, it only makes sense to protect that investment with diligent care.

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For Nelson Ryman, the decision to move forward with dental implants hinged on a couple of different issues: first, a strong desire for comfort, and second, a sincere trust in his dentist’s abilities. “I went to see Dr. DeLuca after I had been to another dentist who hadn’t done me any good and had taken a lot of my money,” Nelson recalls. “I happened to know Dr. DeLuca’s receptionist, Tawnya. She gave me some information, and I realized I was interested in implants.”

At the time of his initial visit, Nelson had six lower teeth and no upper teeth remaining. Though he did have a set of dentures, he says he had never been atisfied with them. “The dentures were never comfortable for me,” he explains. “I talked with Dr. DeLuca, she gave me a treatment program, and I decided I would go with it.”

Finding the right option

Vivian C. DeLuca, DMD, an extensively trained general dentist with advanced education in oral surgery, endodontics, implant dentistry, and conscious sedation believes in treating the whole patient. “Our motto is Healthy smiles, healthy bodies, healthy lives,” she says. “I strive to motivate my patients back to the basics of good health by eliminating infection, then building on a healthy foundation.”

Once that foundation exists, Dr. DeLuca stresses, she can then focus on finding the best treatment solutions for each individual. And when dental implants are part of the discussion, the doctor says she finds it most effective for patients to come into the office for a free consultation. “An implant consultation can answer questions and possibly be the first step on the road to permanent tooth replacement.”

During that consultation, the wide variety of implant procedures are explained, as well as additional procedures like bone grafts or tissue grafts, and the potential cost of each option. “Some cases are more complex than others,” the doctor explains. “The placement of implants is a process, and there is a price to be paid. With these free consultations, we can give patients a baseline idea of what is involved so they can decide whether or not they want to proceed further.”

As a result of Nelson’s consultation, Dr. DeLuca says she learned that he had difficulty adapting to dentures and could not get used to the feel of the appliance against histissue. For that reason, doctor and patient decided it would be best to transition to implants. “I placed two implants and a fixed bridge on either side of the lower jaw, which restored his force and control of chewing. Six implants were placed in the upper arch to support a removable denture.”

Dr. DeLuca says she made a special removable appliance for Nelson, known as an implant-supported hybrid upper denture, which has a metal rather than an acrylic base so that it is much thinner and smaller, covering less tissue surface area. The hybrid, she explains, is considered a middle-of-the-road implant option with regard to cost to replace a full arch of teeth. It was created to work with Nelson’s budget as well as his comfort level.

“Nelson does a great deal of philanthropic work in Haiti,” Dr. DeLuca informs. “Because of that work, he told me he had set aside a certain amount for himself, but that he wanted to save as much of his money as possible for the people who needed his help. This is a man who just constantly gives back, who does so much for so many.”

By working with a couple of local labs, the doctor says she was able to stay within Nelson’s budget and come up with a treatment option that suited his needs, an end result the doctor strives to achieve for every patient.

A natural result

After having completed the implant process with Dr. DeLuca, Nelson says things have gone extremely well. “I’m very, very satisfied with what she did for me. I didn’t use sedation, but she made sure that I stayed comfortable. She really was good at that.

“The implants feel as natural as if they were my own teeth, and they felt that way from the time that she put them in, so she’s done a good job.”

As pleased as he is with the dental work, Nelson notes that he is even more impressed with the doctor as a person. “I know her reputation, that she has been awfully good to a lot of people who couldn’t afford quality dental work like hers, and that she even comes sometimes at night and weekends when patients are in extreme pain. I think that says a lot about her,” he says.

In fact, he adds that he has encountered the same open, giving attitude from everyone on staff at Impeccable Smiles. “Every visit I made, everyone was very cordial and very warm, and that’s just my style of life. My family hugs everybody.”

The bottom line, according to Nelson, is all about trust. “You’ve got to trust somebody before you’re ever truly comfortable with them, in terms of their ability and their motives,” he asserts. “I could tell right away that her expertise was there. She was very gentle, she knew what she was doing, and she did a great job. Dr. DeLuca is just a real person first, and then a good dentist besides.”

FHCN – Brenda Klettke

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