Relaxing Dental Care with Sedation Options
At Montrose Dental, we understand that many individuals have anxiety about dental visits. We offer nitrous oxide and oral sedation to help provide our patients a relaxing and stress-free experience.
Nitrous Oxide: How Does It Work & Why Is It Used?
Nitrous oxide, commonly known as “laughing gas,” is a safe and effective sedation method used during dental procedures. Administered through a small mask placed over the nose, nitrous oxide is mixed with oxygen and inhaled by the patient. This colorless and odorless gas induces relaxation, reducing anxiety and making the dental experience more comfortable. Unlike general anesthesia, nitrous oxide allows patients to remain conscious and responsive throughout the procedure. Its rapid onset and offset make it a preferred sedative in dentistry, allowing for quick adjustment of sedation levels as needed. After treatment, patients breathe pure oxygen to eliminate any remaining nitrous oxide from their system, enabling them to resume their regular activities quickly.
Oral Sedation
For patients who prefer a deeper level of sedation, we offer oral sedation. After assessing the patient’s medical history, we may prescribe an oral sedative before the dental procedure. This medication induces relaxation and drowsiness, allowing patients to remain conscious but deeply relaxed during treatment. While under oral sedation, patients are closely monitored, and we require them to be accompanied by a responsible adult to and from the appointment. Although patients may feel drowsy afterward, they can typically resume normal activities after a brief recovery period.
We are dedicated to providing a calm and comfortable environment for our patients, and our sedation options ensure that even the most anxious individuals can receive the dental care they need. If you have any questions about our sedation services or if nitrous oxide or oral sedation suits you, don’t hesitate to contact our team. Your comfort and well-being are our top priorities, and we are here to help make your dental visits as stress-free as possible.
We are dedicated to providing a calm and comfortable environment for our patients, and our sedation options ensure that even the most anxious individuals can receive the dental care they need. If you have any questions about our sedation services or if nitrous oxide or oral sedation suits you, don’t hesitate to contact our team. Your comfort and well-being are our top priorities, and we are here to help make your dental visits as stress-free as possible.
Otherwise known simply as nitrous or N2O, nitrous oxide is a naturally occurring gas (at room temperature) that is odourless, colourless, and non-flammable. It is used for several applications in everyday life: as a propellant in food products (think whipped cream canister), an engine fuel additive, and in healthcare as a sedative. The dentistry world has been using nitrous oxide for over 150 years.
Nitrous oxide is commonly referred to as “laughing gas” because of the euphoric feeling that most people experience when it’s administered. Just as its name suggests, nitrous oxide is a gas mixture of nitrogen and oxygen.
The Effects of Nitrous Oxide
When consumed in a controlled setting, nitrous oxide has a euphoric effect on the body. This can occur when N2O is inhaled as a gas and reacts with the brain, altering pain and pleasure receptors. Effects occur almost instantaneously and diminish quickly once the gas is no longer being consumed.
What is Nitrous Oxide?
Using Nitrous Oxide in Dentistry
Nitrous is used in several capacities in healthcare to manage pain and keep patients relaxed. It’s always a patient’s choice to receive N2O, and there will be a complete explanation of what to expect during any sedation dental procedure.
Why We Use N2O
Let’s face it, some dental procedures can be a little bit intimidating. Some patients find it very difficult to relax, sit still, or keep their mouth open during restorative care or a root canal. Nitrous oxide provides a simple and easy way to keep a patient tranquil while the dentist is working. N2O is also safe to use on children and older patients.
Nitrous oxide is a preferred sedative in dentistry because of its rapid onset, general safety, and the short period it takes to regain alertness afterwards (when compared to other anesthetics). N2O keeps you calm while your teeth are being fixed, and allows you to go back to a regular day not long after you visit the dentist.
Although the effects of nitrous oxide are temporary, Montrose Dental does recommend that you arrange a safe way home with a responsible adult following any sedation dentistry procedure.
How It’s Administered
Combined with pure oxygen, nitrous oxide is inhaled by the patient through a nose hood, a sort of mask that covers only the nose while your teeth are worked on. Gas is turned on and off throughout the procedure to keep patients calm but without losing consciousness. Most patients will experience reduced discomfort but still be able to respond to questions from their dentist.
Side Effects
The majority of people will have no side effects after using nitrous oxide at their dentist. A slight tingling or numbing can occur while you inhale N2O, but this is not painful. For some, however, there may be temporary discomforts. This may include:
Shivering Nausea Dizziness Vomiting Excessive sweating Fatigue
Try to avoid heavy meals before using N2O as this will lower the chances of nausea. If you are unsure about using nitrous oxide or experience any uncharacteristic side effects following your visit, contact our office right away.
Nitrous Know-How at the Dentist
Both the Canadian Dental Association and the Alberta Dental Association outline safe, effective guidelines for using nitrous oxide in dentistry. Remember that even though nitrous is totally safe to consume under supervised conditions, it can be a dangerous gas when abused or used recreationally. Using nitrous to lower pain or relax a patient is a safe and common practice in modern dentistry. Expect a conversation with your dentist about your general health before electing to use nitrous oxide during a dental procedure. For most people, nitrous is a simple way to make your next trip to the dentist a little more relaxing.
“Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?”
New Patients Always Welcome
Looking for a dentist in Niagara falls? We’re happily accepting new patients at our dental clinic! Contact us to get started today.
