Dr. Calcaterra and Team Attend Dental Anesthesiology Conference

February 28, 2020 by

In early February, Dr. Nick Calcaterra and his two assistants attended the American Dental Society of Anesthesiology (ADSA) conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. This dental anesthesia conference was designed for dentists focusing on IV sedation and general anesthesia in the dental office setting.

Dr. Calcaterra and his Sedation Assistants at ADSA Conference

The team on a break from sedation training

The conference was held at the ARIA resort and casino, located just off the strip. In addition to participating in the conference, the team also enjoyed the excitement of Las Vegas. We are pleased to report that gambling losses were limited to less than $100 total!

Highlights from the ADSA Conference

Dr. Nick Calcaterra attended classes related to IV moderate sedation. Key areas included:

  1. A survey of newer medications being used in dental IV sedation – specifically dexmedetomidine – in addition to midazolam and fentanyl.
  2. A hands-on demonstration of a tablet/mobile app designed to assist anesthesia providers.
  3. A review of newer medications taken by our aging population – such as anti-coagulants – and how to safely sedate patients on those medications.
  4. And many other topics…
Calcaterra Family Dentistry assistants at Anesthesiology conference

Cyndi and Amanda take a break and pose for a photo.

Cyndi and Amanda – our two rockstar Dental Assistants – attended training – along with other anesthesia assistants from across the country. Highlights from their training included:

  1. How medical marijuana use affects dental sedation and anesthesia.
  2. A review of the same tablet/mobile app that Dr. Nick uses.
  3. Any many other topics…

Why ADSA (American Dental Society of Anesthesiology)

ADSA logoAs one of Connecticut’s busiest sedation dentistry offices – completing well over 100 cases per year – we have an obligation to stay up to date on the latest developments and techniques in dental anesthesia. ADSA is the premier not-for-profit society dedicated to sedation and anesthesia in dentistry.

Dr. Nick Calcaterra is a Master of the College of Sedation in Dentistry in ADSA – which is the highest level a general dentist can achieve. This prestigious certification is held by only a couple of hundred dentists across the U.S. – and he is currently the only dentist in the entire state of Connecticut in private practice to have achieved this honor.

As an office committed to providing safe and effective IV and oral sedation services for dental patients across New England, we stay up to date on all the latest research and techniques recommended by ADSA. We know of no other general dental office in Connecticut with this level of commitment to safe and effective sedation.


Request a sedation consultAre you interested in IV sedation? Want to learn more? Schedule a consult so you can learn why we are Connecticut’s premier sedation dentistry office for nearly all of your dental needs. Visit this page to request an appointment or call us at (203) 799 – 2929.

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Dr. Nick Calcaterra awarded Master Status from American Dental Society of Anesthesiology

May 12, 2018 by

Dr. Nick Calcaterra recently sat for and passed the rigorous exam to become a Master in the College of Sedation in Dentistry. This makes Dr. Calcaterra the only general dentist in the entire State of Connecticut who has achieved this prestigious certification who is actively providing IV sedation.

This accomplishment, along with being one of only a select few general dentists in all of Connecticut with a license to provide sedation, has made him the most accomplished sedation dentist in the entire state.

Dr. Nick Calcaterra Master College of Sedation in Dentistry

What is the College of Sedation in Dentistry?

American Dental Society of Anesthesiology

American Dental Society of Anesthesiology

The College of Sedation in Dentistry was created and is maintained by the American Dental Society of Anesthesiology. ADSA, as it is called, is the professional organization representing dental professionals who employ advanced forms of sedation and anesthesia to patients.

The College of Sedation is designed primarily for general dentists and periodontists who wish to further their anesthesia skills. Achieving Master Status – which is the highest level a general dentist or periodontist can achieve – indicates that the provider has complete mastery of all the skills needed to perform IV sedation in his or her office. The rigorous prerequisites – along with a three hour board exam – make it extremely difficult for providers to achieve this status.

Why Sedation Dentistry with Dr. Nick Calcaterra?

Dr. Nick Calcaterra’s vast experience and expertise in sedation for dental patients is what sets him apart. And becoming the only general dentist in Connecticut to be admitted as a Master is testament to his commitment and knowledge.

Dr. Nick Calcaterra Master College of Sedation

Dr. Nick Calcaterra with his two Anesthesia assistants Cyndi and Amanda.

Dr. Nick averages over 100 sedation cases per year, performing procedures such as extractions, root canals, and even simple fillings. For Dr. Calcaterra, sedations are an almost daily procedure. Most other sedation providers – assuming they even have a sedation license – average only one or two cases per month.

Our vast experience in providing twilight anesthesia to patients – along with our caring staff – and Dr. Calcaterra’s deep expertise – are why Connecticut patients choose our office.

Sedation Dentistry requestAre you interested in learning more about sedation dentistry? Then you’ve come to the right place! Go to this page to request a consultation or call us at (203) 799 – 2929. Dr. Nick and two assistants Cyndi and Amanda will be happy to help you.

 

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Liz’s IV Sedation Video – Over 160,000 YouTube Views!

September 6, 2017 by

(Note: this post was updated to reflect the total number of views)

That’s right. Our video – Liz’s IV Sedation Wisdom Teeth Journey – has been viewed over one hundred thousand times on YouTube! And even more impressive, it racked up this number of views in only 18 months. In the video, you see Liz during her third molar extraction procedure – being sedated and having her teeth removed – and then hear her talk about it when we interview her several weeks later.

Is the viral YouTube popularity due to our brilliant videography? Our excellent surgical techniques? Our expertise in IV sedation? Our awesome staff? All of the above? Check it out and see for yourself:

What do you think? Did you watch all 6 minutes of it? We bet you did – along with over 160,000 other YouTube viewers!

We believe the explosive YouTube popularity has to do with several factors:

  1. Great videography and editing by our multifunctional Dental Assistant Cyndi.
  2. Compassionate surgical and anesthesia skills exhibited by Dr. Nick in the video.
  3. A great patient – Liz – who remembers almost nothing of the procedure – but who was kind enough to allow us to document her surgical journey.

It could also be due to her virtually painless healing period afterwards. Or the mango sherbet (go to the 3:55 point to see Liz as for it during the sedation).

Want to be featured in one of our YouTube videos and become an overnight viral sensation? OK – we can’t guarantee that – but we can guarantee a great experience with one of Connecticut’s most experienced sedation dentists.

appointment request with Dr. Nick Calcaterra Sedation DentistInterested in learning more about IV sedation with Dr. Nick? Need your wisdom teeth removed and want twilight anesthesia? Call us at (203) 799 – 2929 or visit this page to request an appointment.

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Ceiling Mounted TVs in Every Room!

March 8, 2017 by

We recently completed a small renovation project to enhance our patients’ experiences. In addition to our existing wall mounted TVs, we mounted flat screen TVs on the ceiling directly above our dental chairs!

ceiling mounted TVs in dental rooms for dentist office

This pediatric patient of ours was spellbound – enjoying his favorite show on the TV directly above him while getting his teeth cleaned.

Little did we know that this renovation would be such a big hit for both adults and kids. Some of the comments we’ve heard:

  • Can I get the name of your carpenter? I need several of these in my house.
  • Can I leave my kids here for several hours while I go shopping?
  • I’ve been a fan of getting my teeth cleaned, but with this TV, I actually love it now!
  • This is better than getting a pedicure!

Our carpenter (who is also a patient of ours) custom designed and built the cabinets for the TVs, complete with sound vents and an area for the remote control to function. Here is a closeup:

TV on the ceiling at our dental office

The custom cabinet is mounted within the ceiling tiles directly above your head.

And don’t worry, the TV is secured into the ceiling with commercial grade fasteners and plywood.

Why Ceiling Mounted TVs Help Us to Help You

We obviously installed the TVs in the ceiling to allow our patients to watch TV. But there are several less obvious benefits. These include:

  1. Increased Efficiency – with you looking at the TV directly above, your head position is ideal for us to complete your procedure(s). We can then do better dentistry in less time!
  2. Better Pediatric Patient Behavior – as an office that sees tons of kids, we know that we have a limited amount of time to get procedures done. Now, the kids don’t even want to leave the chair. And we’ve also noticed that kids who previously needed nitrous oxide no longer need it – they just needed the TV!
  3. More Consistent Appointments – because the TV makes dental visits enjoyable, we find our patients actually enjoy coming to see us. With an increased frequency of visits, we are able to detect small problems before they become big. This results in healthy teeth and smiles all around.

Each TV has a dedicated cable box with over 200+ Optimum channels from which to choose.

Looking for a modern dental office for you or your family? Call us at (203) 799 – 2929 or visit this page to request an appointment.

 

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