Most patients – nearly 60% -- get nervous or anxious before receiving dental care. In extreme cases, some of them might even decide to avoid their appointments altogether! With sedation dentistry, we can help you get control over your dental anxieties and help you relax while Dr. Petty cleans, examines, or treats your smile. For those undergoing simple procedures or suffering from mild anxieties, we may suggest nitrous oxide to make your visit stress-free; call our office for details!
You might be more familiar with nitrous oxide under another name: “laughing gas.” It may or may not give you the giggles, but it does put you in a euphoric state where you’re completely comfortable with your surroundings and what’s happening to you. When used as a sedative, it is mixed with oxygen and delivered through a nasal mask. Dr. Petty has direct control over how much of the sedative you receive at once, and he can increase or decrease the dosage depending on your needs.
Some people hear the word “sedation” and expect to be put to sleep, but while you may be relaxed enough to the point that you could doze off, nitrous oxide does not actually cause you to become unconscious. If you fall asleep, you can be awakened easily. You’ll also be able to answer our questions and follow our directions as needed. While under the influence of nitrous oxide, you won’t be aware of your environment, and you might not even remember the treatment itself.
Nitrous oxide is used in a few different situations at our dental practice. We might recommend it if:
We’ll need to check your medical history before using nitrous oxide. Patients who are pregnant or have elevated blood pressure may not be eligible.
With other forms of sedation, it could take the rest of the day for the effects to wear off completely. Nitrous oxide, on the other hand, doesn’t typically have lingering side effects. That means you don’t have to make any special arrangements after your treatment. You simply wait a few minutes to fully recover before you return to your regular routine; you can even drive yourself home or return to work. Of course, depending on the kind of treatment you received, you might be given different follow-up instructions.
Nitrous oxide earned the nickname “laughing gas” because some patients get the giggles. That said, it’s much more common for patients to feel completely relaxed and anxiety-free. One of the biggest perks of this form of dental sedation is that we can adjust the flow throughout your time in the treatment chair, ensuring you remain comfortable and at ease throughout your visit.
Although you’ll remain awake, you might not remember much about your time in the treatment chair. In fact, that’s one of the many reasons patients love it; the slight memory loss effect helps create a more positive association with dental work, especially for those who had a bad experience in the past.
Usually, sedation is considered a “luxury” and, therefore, dental insurance providers don’t cover the cost. As always, there are some exceptions. For example, if you need multiple tooth extractions or you have a disability that makes it virtually impossible to get the care you need without it, then they may cover a portion of the price. Ultimately, the best way to find out is by reviewing the fine print on your plan.
Important reminder: Our team can help you understand and utilize your benefits, too! So, if you’re not exactly sure what is and isn’t covered, don’t hesitate to let us know. We can take a look at your coverage, answer any questions you have, and handle the paperwork for you so the entire process is as seamless and stress-free as possible.
While the effects of oral conscious sedation last for several hours, the effects of nitrous oxide dissipate almost instantly. That’s why you don’t need to arrange for someone to drive you to and from your appointment! Instead, you can continue the rest of your day with no lingering drowsiness or grogginess.
Since nitrous oxide sedation is so mild, it’s very rare for patients to get sick. That said, if you’re prone to feeling nauseous, don’t hesitate to let us know! From there, we can determine what steps need to be made to give you the positive experience you deserve at our office, like taking anti-nausea medication or fasting prior to your appointment.
A common trope in movies and TV shows is that dental sedation is essentially a truth serum. That’s not the case. Plus, if you do share something, you can have peace of mind knowing that it won’t leave the walls of our office.