While most of our patients do not require sedation dentistry to feel comfortable in the dental chair, we have found that nitrous oxide helps some patients get the dental treatment they need. If you have a dental phobia, or a small child who needs dental care, nitrous oxide can help. Here are some of the ways your next dental appointment in Mansfield can benefit from nitrous oxide.
Nitrous Oxide Is Safe
Used in over one third of dental offices in the United States, nitrous oxide is a common medicine used to help patients relax. Nitrous oxide, also called laughing gas, has been used in dental practice since 1844 as a way to help ease discomfort. At Mansfield Dental, our experienced dental team will take every precaution to ensure the safety of your sedation service and to help you feel more comfortable. Additionally, nitrous oxide is safe for patients who need to drive themselves home. The sedation effects begin to wear off slowly once the gas is no longer administered. The patient is given pure oxygen to breath for a total of five minutes to reverse the effects of sedation and return to a normal state. In almost all cases, the patient is able to drive safely after his or her appointment without an escort.
Patients Can Still Communicate Under Sedation
Nitrous oxide does not put a patient under complete anesthesia or general anesthesia meaning the patient is unable to communicate with the doctor. Under nitrous oxide sedation, the patient is still able to communicate and react to instruction. While IV sedation and general anesthesia render the patient almost fully asleep, nitrous oxide merely produces a calming sensation. Additionally, your Mansfield dentist can control the levels of nitrous oxide to increase or decrease levels of sedation.
Nitrous Oxide Saves Time
The medicine is administered through a mask placed over the mouth and nose. Patients are instructed to breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth. Fast acting, nitrous oxide only takes about 30 seconds to four minutes to begin working. The patient should begin to feel a warm sensation and relaxed feeling throughout the body. While nitrous oxide is beneficial for quickly delivering the dental care fearful patients need, it also helps patients undergoing longer dental procedures such as restorative dentistry to relax.
Special Considerations for Nitrous Oxide
About ten percent of patients do not feel the effects of nitrous oxide because of different factors. Refrain from eating a heavy meal at least two hours before sedation. Higher levels of nitrous oxide may make some patients feel nauseated. Additionally, nitrous oxide does not work effectively for patients with blocked airways or nasal passages as the medicine cannot be breathed in properly. If you have questions about your candidacy for nitrous oxide, consult Dr. S. Blair Jones and Dr. D. Seth Harris of Mansfield.
If you need help relaxing during dental procedures, do not put off treatment any longer. Get the dental care you need by asking about our sedation dentistry services. Call Mansfield Dental Associates at 817-473-6227 to reserve your consultation appointment.
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