Are you getting ready to visit your local dentist in Lutz, FL? Many people fear going to the dentist. As a matter of fact, anywhere between 50% and 80% of people experience some level of dental anxiety.
You can't let your anxiety get in the way of your dental health. If you don't visit your local dentist twice per year for dental care, you may end up needing more costly and painful dental procedures in the future (which may worsen your anxiety).
This is the reason that dentists rely on sedation dentistry, like nitrous oxide. Read on to learn all about how nitrous oxide can keep your next dental visit comfortable.
Nitrous oxide is a popular sedation method amongst dentists. Many people refer to it as laughing gas, but it doesn't really make you laugh (after all, that would make it difficult for dentists to do their job).
It's a gas that the dentist will administer through the nose. The patient will breathe it in like air. Unlike with anesthesia, the patient will stay awake but feel far calmer and more relaxed during the procedure than they would without the gas.
People often experience a sense of euphoria on nitrous oxide. It may feel like time moves more quickly.
Most of the time, the patient will be able to clearly understand their dentist while they're inhaling laughing gas. That said, if the dentist needs to use extra gas to calm an anxious patient, that might not be the case.
As far as dental sedatives go, nitrous oxide is a relatively safe option.
If the patient inhales too much gas, it's possible for them to experience nausea. Sensitive patients may even experience vomiting, but this is uncommon. After using laughing gas, the patient may feel tired (but alert).
Other sedatives carry heavier risks than laughing gas.
Nitrous oxide is also safer for patients who need to transport themselves back home without help. After spending a few minutes inhaling oxygen, the effects of nitrous oxide will wear off. If you're unsure as to whether or not you'll feel safe driving after your procedure, try having someone else with you the first time you use nitrous oxide.
So when would someone consider nitrous oxide?
For people who experience excess anxiety, nitrous oxide is a possibility during all dental procedures. Even routine checkups and cleanings can be made more comfortable with nitrous oxide.
More often than not, dentists use nitrous oxide during extractions, fillings, and root canals, but there's no reason that you can't use it during minor procedures as well.
If you're burdened by dental anxiety, you may want to consider talking to your dentist about nitrous oxide. Dentists understand that patients often struggle to attend routine visits due to anxiety. They want to make sure that you're taking care of your oral health, so they want to help you!
If you're ready to discuss sedation options with a dentist in Lutz, FL, we want to meet you! Contact us at Impeccable smiles to ask any questions or make an appointment today.
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