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Anxiety Free Dental Visit (Nitrous Oxide Sedation) If you are one of the millions of Americans who suffer from dentophobia, defined by an overwhelming fear of dentists, then there is a very good chance that you have been avoiding us. Do not worry; our feelings are not hurt! We here at Summercrest Dental understand that many people suffer from dental anxiety and strive to put our patients at ease when they are in the exam chair. If you have been hesitating about scheduling your next dental appointment due to anxiety, then you may be a good candidate for nitrous oxide during your next dental exam.How Nitrous Oxide Can Help You Feel at EaseFear should not hold you back from receiving the dental treatment that you deserve to have a healthy and beautiful smile. Because we know that you may be suffering from severe anxiety, we are pleased to offer you nitrous oxide during your dental appointments to help you feel calm and relaxed during your exam. First and foremost, you are probably wondering what nitrous oxide is and what it can do to help you. Nitrous oxide is clear, odorless gas that is also known as “laughing gas.” While nitrous oxide does cause feelings of euphoria and giddiness, it may come as a surprise to you that it does not make you laugh. Instead, what we will do is carefully place the mask over your face. Within seconds of breathing this gas in through your nose, you will start to feel peaceful. When we administer nitrous oxide to you, you will remain alert and responsive. You will not grow unconscious, and if we ask you questions, you will still be able to respond to them. Depending on the severity of your anxiety, we can either increase or lower the amount of gas that we administer to you. Once we complete our procedure for you, we will remove the mask. You will find that you might feel a little bit lightheaded or woozy afterward, but you will quickly return to normal. Nitrous oxide is not an analgesic and should not be mistaken for one. While it does not numb sensation, it does make you feel extremely calm during the procedure. If we are performing a procedure that may be somewhat uncomfortable, we will advise an anesthetic at the dental site where we are working. Some common side effects of nitrous oxide are lightheadedness, dizziness, and nausea. We typically recommend that you eat a light meal or snack before your appointment to help prevent any of these side effects. While nitrous oxide is quite safe, certain patients may not be good candidates for it. Before we begin, we will take your complete medical history, and if we determine that laughing gas is not a good fit for you, we will let you know. Women who are pregnant are not advised to use nitrous oxide. People with COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) or other respiratory diseases or infections are also not good candidates for nitrous oxide. Some medications may have bad interactions with nitrous oxide, as well. If you have been holding off on scheduling an appointment with us due to anxiety, please allow us to treat you with the aid of nitrous oxide to help you set your fears aside. For more information and to schedule an appointment with us here at Summercrest Dental, please give us a call at (503) 649-7701 today! |
"He did a great job repairing broken fillings. Great with pain management and has a relaxing demeanor. Thanks for the great work!" ~synetrics |
