Did you know that dental anxiety is one of the most common fears among Australian adults?

With one in six people reporting feelings of anxiety around visiting the dentist, it’s more common than you may think. Luckily, there are a variety of sedation methods available that can help you relax and undergo your treatment without much concern.

Sedation dentistry is a treatment option that uses drugs or medical gas to relax patients before their dental appointments. These drugs are commonly used to help patients relax and feel comfortable during their procedures. You will still be awake during your treatment and you will be more at ease.

What Methods Are Used In Sedation Dentistry?

There are numerous different approaches to sedation dentistry. Oral sedation is the process of giving sedative medications orally to a patient to help them relax and make dental treatments easier. The medication is often taken before the dental procedure so that the patient can relax and feel no discomfort or anxiety.

Intravenous sedation is another effective sedation method for dental treatment. It can be administered by a qualified practitioner or by an assistant during a routine procedure. The patient’s condition should be monitored closely, and the dentist must be experienced in using sedation.

While both oral sedation and IV sedation are safe and reliable options, the method that we use at My Dental Care @ West End is Nitrous Oxide, also known as laughing gas. We favour this method partly because of its long record of safe use in dental procedures and because of its simplicity low risk of negative side effects and swiftness back to normality, so you don’t need to rely on others for transport.

In addition to our nitrous oxide treatment, we also have a service dog named Molar present at the practice to help ease dental anxiety amongst patients! To find out more about Molar, be sure to take a look here or call us on (07) 3846 2548 for availability.

Using Nitrous Oxide in Sedation Dentistry

Nitrous oxide for sedation dentistry is a safe and effective way to minimise the stress of dental procedures. It can help people who are afraid of the dentist feel relaxed and comfortable during their procedure.

During the procedure, you will lie comfortably in their dental chair, and we will place a mask over their nose. Initially, patients will notice a sweet smell and feel relaxed. Patients also report feeling euphoric or dreamy and may experience tingling in their arms and hands. Some described as being on a cloud.

Nitrous oxide for sedation dentistry is very safe and effective for patients with dental anxiety. The sedative gas is inhaled through a nosepiece and starts to have its calming effect in as little as three to five minutes. The dentist will monitor the level of nitrous oxide throughout the procedure and can adjust the dosage as necessary. Since it leaves the system quickly, it is safe for people with asthma, as it will not affect breathing. Moreover, nitrous oxide is so safe that it can be used by children with no risk of harm, so if your little one has a fear of the dentist, it’s a great option for calming those fears.

Are There Side Effects When Using Nitrous Oxide?

One of the main reasons we choose to use nitrous oxide as our sedative of choice in our practice is its minimal side effects. Although patients can experience some minor side effects, these effects are rarely severe. The effects of nitrous oxide are temporary, and they should wear off shortly after the procedure is completed.

Some of the reported side effects include short-term headaches, nausea, drowsiness, and shivering. After your treatment, you will be given pure oxygen to breathe for several minutes to help prevent any potential side effects. This will clear any remaining nitrous oxide from your system and quicken your already-short recovery time.

We suggest that patients who have undergone sedation dentistry with nitrous oxide avoid food and drink for two to three hours following their procedure to reduce the possibility of nausea or vomiting.

How Can We Help?

We want every one of our patients to have a pleasant and relaxing experience when undergoing treatment. Because we understand that dental procedures can be stressful, we provide nitrous oxide as an option for sedation dentistry. All you’ll need to do is pop the nosepiece over your nose, take a few deep breaths, and feel that calmness take hold.

For more information about sedation dentistry at My Dental Care @ West End, please see here.

To make an appointment, please call (07) 3846 2548 or contact us here.