Dentistry for Nervous or Anxious Patients in East Gosford on the Central Coast, NSW.
Happy gas, inhalation sedation, laughing gas, relative analgesia, RA, gas and air, nitrous, nitrous oxide, N2O-O2 , fairy or space man gas…. all describe a form of sedation often used in dentistry to combat the all too common fear of seeing the dentist.
At VC Dental we are conscious that many patients are nervous or fearful of seeing the dentist, and may delay seeking treatment or attending for regular maintenance visits.
There are many forms of sedation or pain relief for patients that we employ. We recognise that each patient is different, so we are able to tailor or suggest treatment that best suits each individual patient. In this first part of the series on dentistry for nervous patients, we will discuss the use of nitrous oxide.
Nitrous oxide (NO2) is a gas mixed with oxygen (O2) which is breathed in through the nose. It has no smell, colour or taste, although we often use nice smelling (e.g. vanilla, strawberry, orange) nose masks, especially for children.
Use of nitrous oxide is simple, effective and rapid. A pleasant floating feeling occurs following about 5 minutes of breathing through the nose mask. The dose is initially started very low and slowly increased until a light pleasant feeling occurs (this is called titration). It can be adjusted throughout the appointment if necessary.
Some people feel lightheaded, euphoric or giddy: sometimes it can bring on the “giggles” – this is why it is often referred to as “happy” or “laughing gas”. Users experience a warm sensation with tingling of extremities and a general feeling of well-being, euphoria or a floating sensation.
In dentistry, it is generally used at a lower concentration of 30%NO2 and 70%O2 (medically it is often used at higher concentrations 50%/50%). If used at higher concentrations for too long, nausea or an unpleasant sensation may be induced. Just tell your dentist and the concentration will be lowered. When users have had a bad experience with happy gas, this is usually the reason.
The great advantage of nitrous oxide/oxygen mixed sedation is its relative immediate effect, i.e. its onset is quick (approximately 5 minutes), it reaches the brain within 20 seconds, and relaxation and pain-killing properties develop after 2 or 3 minutes; and it can be switched off rapidly too – just stop breathing through your nose (or switch the gas off).
The gas is eliminated quickly too, within about 5 minutes of stopping breathing in the gas. So, it has little “hang-over” effect so you can leave the surgery at the end of the appointment unaccompanied, you can even drive home safely yourself!
There are other ways to deliver sedation such as IV sedation, often called sleep dentistry, also used at VC Dental. This is for more nervous patients or more complex cases such as surgery, which require at deeper sedation or longer appointment time. We will discuss this form of sedation in our “Part 2” blog.
For more information on the forms of sedation we offer, please view our Sleep Dentistry page here.
If you would like to discuss your dental anxiety and what sedation options would be best for you please contact our friendly, understanding team here.
