Dental anxiety is very common and can delay or prevent some people from seeking treatment. Here at South Pelham Dental, we offer two sedation options to help fearful patients relax during dental procedures.
Nitrous Oxide
Nitrous oxide, also know as Laughing gas, is a safe, colourless, mildly sweet-smelling anaesthetic gas that is inhaled through the nose. Although everyone reacts a little differently to nitrous, most patients feel relaxed and less anxious while in the dental chair. Nitrous also helps to decrease your perception of pain.
During your appointment the amount of nitrous oxide is adjusted to your comfort level. You will remain conscious and all of your reflexes will remain intact, although you may feel sleepy. You will also be able to communicate with us. Nitrous oxide is not a substitute for dental freezing and your mouth will still need to be frozen.
Nitrous is safe for all ages and recommended for anxious young children. However, any inability to breath though your nose will hinder its effectiveness. Tell your dentist if you have a cold, ear infection, pneumothorax or if you can not breathe through your nose. Unfortunately, nitrous is contraindicated during pregnancy.
You can not eat for 4 hours prior to your appointment although water is okay. Recovery is quick; you will feel normal within a few minutes. You are permitted to drive home.
Oral Conscious Sedation
With oral conscious sedation, you are given a sedative pill about an hour before your procedure begins. Most often the drug is Triazolam, (Halcion) a member of the Benzodiazepine class of medication. You often feel quite groggy and some patients even fall asleep during the treatment. You remain conscious and are still be able to communicate with your dentist if necessary. Most oral sedation appointments are booked for early morning as you are required not to have had anything to eat or drink for 8hrs prior (water is ok.) Because the sedative drug dulls temporarily dulls your reflex and motor skills you are required to have a family member or friend drive you home after the procedure. You often have little to no memory of what happened during the treatment which often helps people dealing with dental anxiety. We do not offer oral sedation for children. Oral sedation is contraindicated for:
- those with allergies to the sedation drug
- pregnancy
Acute narrow-angle glaucoma