Many people tend to have panic attacks at the thought of visiting their dentists. They would rather tolerate the excruciating pain of a toothache or periodontal disease than go to a dental office. But there is a special branch of dentistry that only focuses on treating patients who suffer from dental anxiety or phobia. This particular department of dentistry is known as Sedation Dentistry. The dentists who specialize in this type of dentistry play an enormous role in eliminating dental anxiety in their patients. They use various kinds of dental anesthesia during dental procedures. One of the most popular sedatives that are used by them is Nitrous Oxide. But what is Nitrous Oxide? Read the blog to know more about it and how it is used in dentistry.
What is Nitrous Oxide?
Nitrous Oxide is a very safe and efficient dental anesthesia that also contains a moderate level of oxygen. Dentists make their patients inhale the gas by fitting a small mask over their noses to help them relax. This sedative agent is also known as “laughing gas” and it is the most preferred option for dentists in case they need to calm their patients down. However, it is not meant to put the patient to sleep. The patient will be able to hear as well as interact or communicate with his or her dentist if it is required.
Your dentist will ask you to breathe normally through your nose, to breathe the gas in. After a few minutes you will start to feel light-headed and a tingling sensation in your arms and legs. Different people react differently to nitrous oxide. Some patients have claimed their body, arms and legs feel heavy. Regardless, the dentist will need you to keep wearing the mask to ensure that you are getting a steady supply of the sedative agent. This is due to the reason that the effects tend to subside as soon as the mask is removed.
The Uses of Nitrous Oxide In Dentistry
As per American Dental Association, the usage and the inhalation of nitrous oxide and oxygen are deemed as a safe and potent option for treating several issues related to the patients. Now let us take a look at the various uses of nitrous oxide in dentistry:
- Nitrous Oxide is used to treat patients that suffer from dental anxiety.
- It is also used to calm down uncooperative patients.
- It is used for patients who can have nervous reactions like gagging.
- It is most suitable for young children who are scheduled for long and complex dental treatments.
- Lastly, it is also highly recommended for patients who have problems with local anesthesia.
We hope our blog has helped you in gaining sufficient knowledge about the uses of nitrous oxide in dentistry. If you looking for the best dentist in Dallas, Duncanville, then please visit us at Village Family Dental. Our team of dentists is the best in the field of sedation dentistry.
