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The Magic Wand! (UK)

G

Guest

Former Member
I am nearly 57 years of age and have suffered from a lifetime of anxiety whenever visiting the dentist, as a throwback to my bad childhood experiences of the dreaded school dentistry programme
(I live in England)

This put me off visiting a dentist for many years and this instigated a history of gum disease with eventual loss of many teeth.

I do visit my local NHS (National Health Service) dental surgery and they are very sympathetic over my general nervousness. My main problem has been a needle phobia and I have had some terrible times
whenever summoning up the courage to have extractions by traditional syringe, which dates back to the mid 19th century!

This always caused pain on the final deep injection around the actual tooth tissue area. Thanks to the internet, I have been searching for various ideas and methods before coming across the Wand which offers painless anaesthesia by virtue of its revolutionary computerised method.

I then contacted several dentists and enquired about their own experiences with this amazing machine as well as trying to find out if any local dentists were using the Wand.


They put me in touch with a dentist that uses the Wand (Compudent) I also decided to undergo the extraction of a loose molar that would have caused more problems in the very near future so its loss was inevitable anyway.

The dentist and his assistants were superb and did their best to assuage my fears as he proceeded to take this tooth out. I felt no pain or discomfort whatsoever as the Wand went about its numbing of the surrounding gum, with its gradual advance release of anaesthetic.

This has been a major hurdle that I have now crossed as I am no longer afraid of any future treatment that requires anaesthetic and I am in the process of arranging future appointments with the same practice who specialises in cosmetic work alongside his normal procedures.


I feel that this is one of the most important inventions in dentistry and every practice should have one, especially for children and nervous adults alike. Do a Google search and read all about it! Then find a dentist who uses the Wand and you will never look back. It is computerised and allows a slow steady drip of anaesthetic into the gum which has already been made numb by preceding pulses - amazing. The handpiece looks like a large pen and offers more control and mobility for the dentist, unlike the hand-wielded syringe which will NEVER be used on my mouth again!
 
this is interesting...presumably The Wand uses a needle to inject? so it's the controlled speed of flow which makes the difference? does that mean a dentist could achieve the same pain-free result by injecting with a syringe, but very slowly?
anyway, well done Limey! It's good to hear a success story from a fellow victim of the butcher-dentists of the Fifties!
 
this is interesting...presumably The Wand uses a needle to inject? so it's the controlled speed of flow which makes the difference? does that mean a dentist could achieve the same pain-free result by injecting with a syringe, but very slowly?


You got it in a nutshell :)! The Wand basically makes it easier to inject very slowly and steadily (injecting too quickly can be painful), but exactly the same pain-free effect can be achieved "manually". Some dentists are under a lot of time-pressure though, or aren't interested in learning painless injection techniques for whatever reason. Some are just a bit heavy-handed, in which case the Wand can be a godsend. I've been told there is one "fancy" type of injection for one particular spot where the Wand consistently outperforms manual delivery of local anaesthetic, but it's a type of technique which is used very rarely anyway.
 
The wand is fantastic if you don't like the needles. My dentist used it on me for a root canal. He did have to use needles though later in the procedure, but he told me that the wand injections were very short lived and he would have to inject again. But you're numb already and don't feel anything.
 
the pain during injections is mainly due to the pressure of the anaesthetic liquid put on the tissues at the injection site, and also if the liquid is cold it can cause pain. so the harder the dentist pushes the plunger, the more pressure and the more pain.
the wand gets around this problem by using a computer to measure the density of the tissue as the needle goes in and then injects the liquid at an appropriate rate according to the density, thus achieving minimal pain
so if you think about it as it has been mentioned, there is no reason why a good dentist can't do the same manually by having a steady hand and injecting slowly. and time shouldnt be an excuse as it will only take 30-60 seconds longer.
ive done many LAs myself with the patient asking afterwards "are you done already??" ;D
 
January 9th 2006:

Went back to the same dentist near Birmingham city centre (UK not Alabama!) I understand that this practice is now on the recommended list, so I understand that I do not need to name them on a message such as this?

(Cryptic clue - this building was not built by Sir Christopher Wren!)


This time, I felt no fear thanks to the previous visit as mentioned thanks to finding a superb dentist wielding the magic Wand! Needed a loose front tooth taken out and another false one added onto existing partial upper denture. The worst possible problem as this is the smile that faces the world, but this is only a temporary hiccup. When the gum settles down in 3 months, I'm back for a Maryland Bridge - a single tooth that is fixed to the two adjacent ones which are (luckily) strong enough to take it. It uses a small linking plate that goes behind the others and I'm also looking to have them whitened in between.

Bleaching only works on natural teeth but the new false tooth can be matched as can those on my existing partial dentures. They can simply be replaced although the upper front ones are the most important.

Back to this extraction - once again helped by a very friendly calming dentist and two lady assistants. I must admit to having a quick pre-op sedative - a double brandy at a nearby pub! No need really as I strolled calmly into the reception and then into the chair. I-pod in the ears playing some cool music, as I didnt want have my eyes open to see the video plasma screen above that plays movies etc! Might have stuck Marathon man on!!


Dr V went about his business with the Wand - a little spray to numb the gums then a few minutes slowly injecting small doses of anaesthetic through the computerised outlet system and I didnt feel a thing! Just slight pressure now and then but not that previous anticipated final jab of the old fashioned syringe.

I just kept eyes closed, humming away to Dido, Black Eyed peas and co before being tapped on the arm. It was all done - tooth out and denture already in place! What a relief.

My fear of needles is now a thing of the past, and I hope that this gives inspiration to others who might do what I did. Use the internet and search for local dentists who use the Wand or ask any of them for the name of their suppliers who probably cover a wide area anyway. They will be more than willing to pass on details although they will not generally recommend any one practice.

I have spent years by attending NHS (National Health Service) and they have been OK but I guess that a private practice would have picked up my problems. These days, it makes sense to spend money on your teeth which are so important but easy to neglect. My problems go back decades when the damage was done by neglect, and fear of visiting old fashioned dentists.

I firmly believe that the Wand is one of the best inventions over recent years and the perfect solution for needle phobics. It can avoid the use of sedatives or IV etc - it really is state of the art PAINLESS anaesthesia and a great weight has been lifted off me

:jump:
 
Went back to the dentist (see approved list for Birmingham City Centre) for some follow-up work.

I had an upper incisor taken out back in January which was completely painless thanks to the Wand and a temporary fase one fitted to my partial plate which just fills the back area.

I had a home tooth-whitening kit and this was used over a few weeks although it can be used over an intensive 7 days if required. Only used it on the upper front teeth (main profile anyway) and this brought them back to an A1 shade from the yellowing ones before! Even the dentist (D.V.) was pleasantly surprised at the giant leap forward!

Thiis last appointment was to fit a Maryland bridge and fill that front gap. Very expensive but well worth it to regain my smile again.

I have another loose tooth and whenever it needs to come out, then I will have no sleepless nights just before this extraction thanks to the amazing Wand as outlined above. The old syringe method really freaked me out, following a few painful experiences but I guess that was down to a rushed NHS dentist etc.

I cannot praise this practice enough and I hope that other needle phobics will stumble across this Dental Fear website and find real support and advice. It s now easy to locate a sympathetic dentist via this site and I'm sure that more practices will invest in the Wand. Expensive gear but they should recoup the outlay as they gain new patients like me!
 
I have been talking about The Wand ever since I came on these boards over 6 months ago. I would never, and I mean, never go to a dentist who did not use it.

This is 2006. There is technology out there that makes dentistry practically pain free. I asked my dentist about the cost of using the wand and he explained that each time he uses it it costs about one dollar.

to me, that's money well spent.

I remember the big fat syringes, the needles, the pain and the horror of the old time dentists who have no time for fearful patients.

I found my "good guy", in NYC and I'll never look back at any of the old dentists again.

The Wand truly was my salvation.

Now my husband, he is completely different than me. he can go and sit in the dentists chair with no hesitation, fear, or anything. You can inject him with anything. Personally, I think he's nuts but then again, he thinks I'm the one who is nuts.

But really, which would you rather have in your mouth, a big syringe or a computerized delivery novocaine system that lets you get numb (you don't feel anything while you are being numbed). Or would you want the syringes? Have you ever seen a dentist's tray with all those instruments.

I think you'd have to be out of your mind to just sit there and not be scared to death.
This is just my opinion.

But if The Wand gets people going to the Dentist again, well, that would be the miracle of the century.

I encourage each and every one of you to ask your own dentist about the wand. See what they say.

melody
 
melody-does your dentist use the Wand itself or the other one called The
Comfort Control Syringe? I think they both basically work the same but one
is controlled by a pedal? If anyone knows please let me know. I have seen
the pictures online of both but would like to know if they work the same or
a little differently? I just wonder if they both are painless.

Thanks
Elaine
 
 As far as teeth bleaching, I've been very pleased with the results of novamin containing products (oravive).  It doesn't damage the tooth like some whitening products do. You might want to see if your dentist carries them or can refer you to some and give them a try.  

 See how white mine are:  ;D
 
Elaine:

Hi.

Just went to my doctor's website and here's what is written about The Wand.....

THE WAND
The Wand is a revolutionary new computer controlled local anesthesia injection system that can provide a more comfortable and effective anesthetic delivery. Whether you get nervous about the injection or not, The Wand allows a more predicably confortable injection, especially in the more sensitive areas such as the palate or front of the mouth. It also allows the use of less anesthetic and at certain times, techniques can be used to eliminate the collateral numbing of your face, tongue and lips. The needle is not what causes the main discomfort of an injection. It is the pressure and volume of the fluid going into the tissues. The microprocessor inside The Wand automatically compensates for different tissue densities. The anesthetic is delivered at a constant pressure and volume that's typically below the threshold of pain. The computer also provides a flow of anesthetic directly ahead of the needle. This numbs the site of insertion and develops a "pathway of anesthesia" so you hardly feel the needle at all. The Wand delivers the anesthetic at an optimal flow rate for a confortable injection every time. Our Dental Phobia Center uses The Wand exclusively and you will never see a dental syringe again!

More information about the wand can be found here:



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take care,
melody

[admin note: broken link replaced]
 
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