Nitrous Oxide Sedation Dentistry
What to Expect from Inhalation Sedation Dentistry Inhalation is the most versatile form of sedation dentistry.
This is because it requires no shots, medications or actions on the patients behalf before the appointment.
Inhalation dentistry can help you manage sudden anxiety attacks.
If your regular check up becomes difficult or unpleasant, the dentist can easily administer nitrous oxide to relax and distract you.
Normally the dentist would give you a pill to take before hand and see you on another day; or if possible, administer I.
V.
sedation if a friend was available to drive you home.
This requires you to come back another day or have a shot administered before sedation.
Luckily there is a way to sedate you without waiting for the effects of oral medication or leaving you groggy for the rest of the day.
Inhalation sedation can be administered at any time to almost any patient and the effects are short lived.
Since the dentist will administer the inhalation sedation at his office, you will be able to drive yourself to your appointment.
A mask or nasal cannula on your nose will flow oxygen and nitrous oxide (laughing gas) to you.
The dentist can adjust the mixture to instantly change your level of sedation if you experience pain or discomfort.
The gas relaxes and relieves anxiety, learn more about the effects here.
The dentist may also place a blanket over you to keep you warm and give you a pillow to increase comfort.
Other common ways to help further relax you and distract you from the procedure; are white noise machines, music or television.
When the procedure or appointment is over the dentist will remove the mask and turn off the gas.
The effects of inhalation sedation are usually short, so you should be alert and awake within a few minutes and able to drive yourself home.
Remember that inhalation sedation is an easy, painless and impromptu method of relieving fear and increasing comfort, be sure to ask your dentist for it the next time you visit; in may even be gratis with the appointment.
Inhalation Sedation is also Known as Light Sedation It is called inhalation sedation because the patient inhales nitrous oxide through a mask or nasal cannula, which relaxes and distracts them.
This method of sedation is good for light procedures or routine visits to the dentist.
It is best for people with low levels of anxiety and not frequent to panic attacks.
Medical Nitrous Oxide is delivered through a mask covering the nose or a nasal cannula into the nostrils from a storage tank.
Today's masks allow the dentist to precisely and control the flow of the gas.
It safely mixes nitrous oxide with oxygen to keep you conversational and aware, while suppressing any painful sensations.
The normal mixture is 3 parts nitrous oxide and 7 parts oxygen, although your dentist can strengthen or weaken the mixture depending on your comfort and level of relaxation.
An added benefit to inhalation sedation is that you can drive yourself to and from your dental appointment.
You do not need a friend to pick you up after the appointment because the effect of the gas wears off quickly and you will be fine to drive within a few minutes.
Remember to always listen to your dentist, only they know when you are ready to leave.
Basic Information About Laughing Gas Nitrous Oxide (Chemical Formula~N2O), is an odorless and colorless gas.
Most people know nitrous oxide as "laughing gas.
" Nitrous Oxide is used in medicine because of it has analgesic and anesthetic properties.
Anesthetics cause temporary loss of awareness, by cutting off sensory input from the brain.
Analgesics help to relieve and block pain.
Laughing gas also produces a euphoric feeling ( "high") when given.
This euphoria often makes people feel like laughing; which is why it is commonly referred to as "laughing gas.
" The gas is strong enough to reduce pain and anxiety during dental procedures while still leaving the patient conscious and able to respond to the dentist's requests.
In addition to the anesthetic and analgesic effect produced by "laughing gas," it also has a anxiolytic effect.
Anxiolytic is the technical way of saying "anti-anxiety.
" Laughing gas not only relieves anxiety through the knowledge you will have a comfortable and painless dentistry experience, but also directly reduces anxiety as a medicine.
This is because it requires no shots, medications or actions on the patients behalf before the appointment.
Inhalation dentistry can help you manage sudden anxiety attacks.
If your regular check up becomes difficult or unpleasant, the dentist can easily administer nitrous oxide to relax and distract you.
Normally the dentist would give you a pill to take before hand and see you on another day; or if possible, administer I.
V.
sedation if a friend was available to drive you home.
This requires you to come back another day or have a shot administered before sedation.
Luckily there is a way to sedate you without waiting for the effects of oral medication or leaving you groggy for the rest of the day.
Inhalation sedation can be administered at any time to almost any patient and the effects are short lived.
Since the dentist will administer the inhalation sedation at his office, you will be able to drive yourself to your appointment.
A mask or nasal cannula on your nose will flow oxygen and nitrous oxide (laughing gas) to you.
The dentist can adjust the mixture to instantly change your level of sedation if you experience pain or discomfort.
The gas relaxes and relieves anxiety, learn more about the effects here.
The dentist may also place a blanket over you to keep you warm and give you a pillow to increase comfort.
Other common ways to help further relax you and distract you from the procedure; are white noise machines, music or television.
When the procedure or appointment is over the dentist will remove the mask and turn off the gas.
The effects of inhalation sedation are usually short, so you should be alert and awake within a few minutes and able to drive yourself home.
Remember that inhalation sedation is an easy, painless and impromptu method of relieving fear and increasing comfort, be sure to ask your dentist for it the next time you visit; in may even be gratis with the appointment.
Inhalation Sedation is also Known as Light Sedation It is called inhalation sedation because the patient inhales nitrous oxide through a mask or nasal cannula, which relaxes and distracts them.
This method of sedation is good for light procedures or routine visits to the dentist.
It is best for people with low levels of anxiety and not frequent to panic attacks.
Medical Nitrous Oxide is delivered through a mask covering the nose or a nasal cannula into the nostrils from a storage tank.
Today's masks allow the dentist to precisely and control the flow of the gas.
It safely mixes nitrous oxide with oxygen to keep you conversational and aware, while suppressing any painful sensations.
The normal mixture is 3 parts nitrous oxide and 7 parts oxygen, although your dentist can strengthen or weaken the mixture depending on your comfort and level of relaxation.
An added benefit to inhalation sedation is that you can drive yourself to and from your dental appointment.
You do not need a friend to pick you up after the appointment because the effect of the gas wears off quickly and you will be fine to drive within a few minutes.
Remember to always listen to your dentist, only they know when you are ready to leave.
Basic Information About Laughing Gas Nitrous Oxide (Chemical Formula~N2O), is an odorless and colorless gas.
Most people know nitrous oxide as "laughing gas.
" Nitrous Oxide is used in medicine because of it has analgesic and anesthetic properties.
Anesthetics cause temporary loss of awareness, by cutting off sensory input from the brain.
Analgesics help to relieve and block pain.
Laughing gas also produces a euphoric feeling ( "high") when given.
This euphoria often makes people feel like laughing; which is why it is commonly referred to as "laughing gas.
" The gas is strong enough to reduce pain and anxiety during dental procedures while still leaving the patient conscious and able to respond to the dentist's requests.
In addition to the anesthetic and analgesic effect produced by "laughing gas," it also has a anxiolytic effect.
Anxiolytic is the technical way of saying "anti-anxiety.
" Laughing gas not only relieves anxiety through the knowledge you will have a comfortable and painless dentistry experience, but also directly reduces anxiety as a medicine.
