15 Mar Your Comfort Is A Priority In Our Dental Office
Many patients suffer from severe anxiety that prevents them from visiting their dentist for treatment needed to maintain their oral health. In addition, physical or mental limitations may deter individuals from seeking the care they need. Sedation dentistry can take the edge off allowing the body to relax while seated or reclining in the dental chair.
Nitrous Oxide
While many refer to nitrous oxide as laughing gas, it is a colorless, non-flammable gas that is coupled with oxygen in the dental office to provide the patient with a relaxed sensation allowing for needed dental work to be performed.
The dentist will administer nitrous via an inhalation method using a nose cone with instructions to breath through your nose. In a matter of minutes, the patient is in a near euphoric state. Some patients may be impacted more than others, so the use of this relaxing gas may even result in the patient having little recollection of the visit.
One of the many advantages of nitrous oxide is that once the dentist terminates its use, the patient is restored to a normal state of mind almost immediately. This allows the patient to experience relaxing treatment, but they have the ability to drive and return to their normal routine following their dental visit.
Oral Sedation
When the use of nitrous oxide is insufficient, oral sedation may be introduced. The patient is given an oral sedative to take at home about an hour before their dental appointment. Upon arrival, the dentist administers additional sedatives and allows time for them to take effect before proceeding. During this time the patient is monitored for their safety and comfort.
Oral sedation requires the patient to have transportation both to and from their dental appointment. And unlike nitrous oxide, the effects of oral sedation take hours to wear off so the patient is advised to return home to rest for the remainder of the day.
Sedation dentistry allows extremely fearful or anxious individuals the opportunity for treatment that they may have denied themselves for years. Patients who are unable to recline in comfort as well as those undergoing lengthy procedures can also benefit.
Routine dental visits assist in maintaining good oral health. If needed, inquire about the availability of different sedation methods designed for your comfort … a priority in our dental office.