Dental anxiety is an extremely common phenomenon. Unfortunately, it can prevent patients from getting a much-needed dental treatment and preventative care. Nitrous Oxide will make you feel relaxed and euphoric. You may not even remember the treatment afterward.
Did you know that sedation is used for many purposes other than anxiety? Patients with strong gag reflexes who are getting work done on their rear molars can use sedation to suppress this psychological reflex. It’s also useful for patients with low pain tolerance and tooth sensitivity or who experience restlessness and need to sit for a long procedure.
Getting sedated means you will be relaxed and in a dream-like state. However, you will still be able to respond and follow instructions from Dr. Parucuri or Dr. Sahai. When patients are in a relaxed state, we’re able to get more work done in a shorter amount of time, which means fewer appointments and lower costs.
Nitrous oxide is also known as laughing gas because it causes patients to feel giddy and euphoric and in turn relaxes them. Nitrous oxide gases are released through a nasal mask and inhaled by the patient along with oxygen so they have no trouble breathing.
Nitrous oxide has a short onset, so you will be able to feel the effects almost immediately. Likewise, once the treatment is over, we will flush the remaining nitrous oxide out of your body by flowing a steady stream of oxygen through the mask. Within 5 minutes, the sedative will have worn off.
There is not much preparation required for the administration of nitrous oxide, because it is a mild and low-risk sedative. The only requirement unless otherwise instructed by your dentist is to fast for 2 hours leading up to your dental appointment.
Be sure to inform your dentist of any medications you are taking or if you have any respiratory conditions or inability to breathe out of your nose because this can inhibit the effectiveness of the sedative. Once the sedative has worn off, which takes about 3-5 minutes, you will be able to drive home and return to your normal routine.
Nitrous oxide is extremely safe and is only administered by a board-certified dentist who is trained in its administration and monitoring the patients for any signs of complications. It is extremely rare for complications to occur under this sedation, but we are prepared to monitor patients closely during their treatment and respond accordingly to complications in the unlikely event that they occur.
The biggest side effect of nitrous oxide is nausea, which is more likely to occur if you have eaten within 2 hours before your dental appointment. To reduce the risk of nausea and vomiting, do not consume any food or drinks (unless otherwise approved by your dentist) for 2 hours leading up to your appointment.
Nitrous oxide is nicknamed laughing gas because it tends to make patients giggle. When you inhale nitrous oxide, it slows down your brain and motor function. The effects vary from person to person, but patients are likely to feel euphoric, relaxed, giddy, or experience some auditory distortions and hallucinations.
While nitrous oxide is a form of conscious sedation, you may feel very sleepy after its administration and could fall asleep during your procedure. However, it will be easy to wake you up and you are responsive to questions. Once the procedure is over, you may not remember it. To learn more about sedation dentistry in Terre Haute, contact Vivid Smiles today.
Routine checkups usually start with an initial exam performed by your dental hygienist, who will look for any signs of dental issues. Next, your hygienist will remove any plaque and tartar from your teeth and they will be cleaned and polished using professional-grade tools. When your teeth are clean, one of our dentists will thoroughly examine your teeth and gums, and we may recommend x-rays to ensure that any small dental issues are caught before they become bigger problems.
The best way to keep your teeth and gums healthy between visits is to brush and floss properly. For optimal dental health, you should brush at least twice a day for two minutes, ideally in the morning when you wake up and at night, before bed. You should also floss once per day to remove food and debris from between your teeth. Brushing alone is not enough to remove all of the material that can cause tooth decay and gum disease, and flossing every day will help you avoid gum disease.
According to the American Dental Association, you should see the dentist for a cleaning and oral exam every six months. Coming in regularly ensures that we can remove plaque and tartar as it builds up in your mouth, which helps prevent tooth decay and gum disease. It also lets us keep an eye on your oral health and any potential areas of concern, and recognize early signs of oral health issues.
If you have gum disease or another oral health issue that requires more attention, you may need to come in more frequently and have your teeth and gums professionally cleaned every 3 months. For more information, consult with one of our dentists!
2512 Wabash Avenue
Terre Haute, IN 47803
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