We offer the supportive environment you need to feel relaxed during your visit
Many people speak about dentistry with such passivity that it can make those patients who prefer to avoid it feel a sense of embarrassment. How can some of us have a root canal performed over our lunch breaks and return to our desks to close out the afternoon while others agonize over whether to attend the appointment at all? We have been attending dental appointments throughout our lives – shouldn’t we be comfortable with it by now? Not necessarily.
Since each human being is unique, it stands to reason that each of us would have a different level of comfort where dental work is concerned. Despite the self-judgment you may feel as someone less comfortable in the dental chair, your dentist is not judging your trepidation. Patients, both young and old, sometimes arrive at the dentist with anxiety. Our only real concern is how we can offer you the supportive environment you need to feel relaxed during your visit.
Nitrous Oxide
Our clinic offers nitrous oxide to assist those who feel a level of anxiety that stands in the way of a calm and relaxed dental experience. Once you have experienced the effects of this safe and gentle treatment, you’ll know just why it is commonly referred to as laughing gas.
With over 100 years of history behind it, nitrous oxide has been used effectively in addition to local anesthetics to provide a feeling of mild euphoria and pain management. The substance is combined with oxygen and delivered through a nasal hood placed over the nose. Nitrous gas has a quick onset of only a matter of seconds and wears off completely in only a few minutes, with no lingering effects. Since the gas is inhaled, it is easy to dose and re-dose as needed throughout the procedure while you remain conscious and responsive. In this way, it is easy to control the level of sedation provided without any ‘hangover’ effects from the medication and does not require any injections.
The effects of nitrous oxide can be described as a tingling feeling in the extremities and a sense of contentedness. Should you require a longer-acting medication, your dentist may recommend the use of oral sedative medication.
Oral Sedation
Oral sedation describes the use of benzodiazepine medications to provide a deeper level of sedation. Benzodiazepines have a safe history of use, and they derive their effectiveness from their ability to effectively suppress the central nervous system response that results in anxiety (or the fight or flight response). Patients remain conscious and responsive throughout the procedure using oral sedation, though they may not recall the specifics of the appointment.
Oral sedation effects leave the patient feeling calm, passive, and drowsy. For this reason, your dentist will direct you to ensure that a driver who is known to you collects you from the appointment and sees you home safely. Since oral sedatives can impact your judgment temporarily, walking home or taking public transit is not a safe alternative.
Benzodiazepines are not immediately effective, so your dentist may have you take the medication at home before your appointment or may request that you arrive early for your appointment to allow the medication to take effect before the procedure. This level of sedation is not easily controlled like laughing gas, but it does provide a lasting effect – so prepare to spend the rest of your day napping away the drowsiness. The following day, the effects of the oral medication will have dissipated, and you can safely return to your regular activities.
We’ll give you a reason to smile
We’re accepting new patients and look forward to serving you, so please give us a call or request an appointment online; see you soon!