Nitrous oxide (laughing gas) is safe for children and is a very mild form of dental sedation.
The first step is to complete a check that dental sedation will be safe for you. This review includes going over your medical history, current health, and any medications you take. For example, certain medications, being pregnant, or currently breastfeeding might require waiting before trying sedation. If sedation is safe for you, then you can start planning your next dental treatment.
Preparing for dental sedation is typically simple: avoid any food or non-clear beverages for 2 hours ahead of your visit. Water and clear beverages are still fine, though. Dr. Naji will let you know if any adjustments should be made for your individual case.
Nitrous oxide in an inhaling gas and begins working within about 2 minutes, so we start treatment soon after administering it.
Nitrous oxide wears off very quickly, and patients are back to normal within minutes. Following treatment, no aftercare is needed, and you can drive yourself home or back out to resume your day.
Nitrous oxide is highly popular for dental sedation because it is effective, fast-acting, and has short-lived effects afterward. IT is one of the safest ways of sedations and highly recommended for younger kids for their routing dental treatments. Patients wear a mask through which they can breathe both oxygen and the gas (which has no taste, color, or smell). It begins working in minutes and is described as a feeling of euphoria and deep relaxation. Some giddiness can be normal.
While you may feel sleepy (and even nod off), you can easily interact with your dentist as needed. You are fully aware, but any feelings of stress should be dampened or even fully disappear. Afterward, the effects wear off in a matter of minutes and you can drive your self from the office.
Oral conscious sedation offers a more familiar experience for patients. Instead of inhaling through a mask, patients receive a pill ahead of their appointment. On your appointment day, it is recommended to arrive an hour early. Patients then can take the medication, which will gradually display effects in about 20 minutes. Patients describe the effects as a sense of feeling calm and relaxed. While you may feel mildly sleepy, you can remain awake and interact with your dentist as needed.
However, this type of sedation for dental care takes more time to wear off. As such, patients will need someone to drive them home after treatment, as operating a motor vehicle could be unsafe for up to 24 hours.
IV sedation dentistry is the strongest type of conscious sedation you can get at the dentist's office setting. Your anesthesiologist administers sedative drugs directly into your bloodstream through an IV line. Throughout the procedure, your doctor keeps an eye on your heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen levels. They can adjust the dosage as needed and use reversal drugs if required. Many people who receive IV sedation dentistry fall asleep and don't remember much, if anything, about their treatment when they wake up. This option is great for those with severe dental anxiety or undergoing long procedures. We can schedule an anesthesiologist to perform this type of sedation if requested and planned for the patient.
Nitrous oxide does not necessarily make you sleep. You may feel sleepy, but can easily be woken if you doze off.
Sedation dentistry's greatest strength is making treatment comfortable for patients with dental anxiety. While it's not an anesthetic, it can also lessen any sensations of discomfort or pain during treatment. Together, these factors make it highly useful for a range of treatments, from oral surgery to more routine dental care.
Depending on the type of sedation, we provide patients with instructions for preparation and aftercare. For nitrous oxide preparation includes fasting for 2 hours before your appointment. This reduces the risk of feeling nauseous as a side effect of the sedation. For oral sedation, fasting requires for 8 hours except the necessary medication, pick up your tablet ahead of time and then arrive early to your appointment. You will need accompany to drive you back to your place and stay with you until the effects of medication is completely gone. Taking uber is not an option. In both cases, being ready for dental sedation is easy!
Laughing gas wears off within minutes, so you will need no aftercare and can return to your day with ease. Oral sedation can take hours to a full day to fully dissipate. So, patients will need someone to drive them home and should not drive 24 hours post sedation. We also recommend taking it easy at home until the effects fully wear off. A complete post-op care will be given to patients.
Dental anxiety affects up to 36% of the US population.
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