2026-02-02 – Weekly Dentist News : Calmer visits with buffered anesthesia

Last week on the forum, members engaged in lively discussions about practical techniques and strategies in dental practice. A recurring theme was effective anesthesia methods, with several threads exploring innovative ways to improve patient comfort. Members also shared tips on managing pediatric dental care and reducing patient no-shows. The dialogue was enriched by contributions on continuing education recommendations, emphasizing the importance of ongoing learning in the dental field.


This Week’s Hot Topics

Fastest way to numb a hot molar
A practical discussion on techniques to quickly and effectively anesthetize a hot molar, a common challenge in dental practice.
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Making flossing stick for kids
Members are sharing creative ideas to encourage children to floss regularly, turning a daily chore into a fun habit.
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Tension-free closure reduces day-two calls
This thread explores how tension-free suturing techniques can minimize post-operative complications, reducing follow-up calls.
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Ortho–GP case planning CE recommendations
A valuable exchange on the best continuing education courses for collaborative case planning between orthodontists and general practitioners.
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Cutting no-shows without overbooking
Strategies are being discussed to reduce patient no-shows while maintaining a balanced schedule, a perennial issue for dental offices.
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Why we ice 20 minutes on, 20 off after extractions
A deep dive into the reasoning behind the 20-minute icing protocol post-extraction, aiming to enhance recovery.
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Root canals don’t have to hurt
This conversation challenges the perception of painful root canals by discussing techniques that improve patient experience.
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Buffered anesthesia and GentleWave for calmer visits
Exploring the benefits of buffered anesthesia and GentleWave systems in creating a more relaxed environment for patients.
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Looking forward to seeing how these discussions evolve. Stay engaged and keep sharing your experiences.

We switched add-ons to a “Rapid” visit type in Epic that hides the reason-for-visit on the schedule and auto-pings our clinical lead via Secure Chat, so front desk only confirms name/DOB and we triage chairside within 8 minutes. Small caveat: set a 10-minute expire on the buffer or it snowballs at lunch — @Erin_P, would that slot behavior work in your build?

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I love the idea of buffered anesthesia; it really does make a difference in keeping patients calm. Just last week, I had a kid who normally freaks out during shots relax when we used it. It’d be great if we could share results on how it’s affecting our no-show rates too, @Guide.

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