Vancouver Sedation Dentistry - Sedation Dentistry - Nitous Oxide

Sleep dentistry allows dentists to help the apprehensive patient, who may have had painful dental care in the past or a traumatic experience in the dental chair, get the anxiety-free dentistry care they need pain-free.

"Sedation Dentistry" is done by taking a sedative tranquilizer medicine and may be supplemented by medicated air to breathe containing nitrous oxide. Instructions must be carefully followed for "sedation dentistry" procedures because, although it is very safe, you will definitely be sedated.

Be sure someone can pick you up, drive you to the office and hold your arm as you walk into the office. You will be awake but very relaxed, you might be woozy and disoriented, so you cannot walk alone.

After your visit, you will find that you won't remember very much, even though you'll feel fine. You must be accompanied by a responsible adult who can also take you home and keep an eye on you for the next few hours. Even though you may think you feel okay, you could lose your balance and slip and fall, so be sure to take it easy for the rest of the day.

Deep sedation or general anesthesia may be required for dental care treatment to be successfully provided.

When this is necessary, the dentist will employ a highly trained and certified dentist anesthesiologist, medical anesthesiologist, or, in some cases, nurse anesthetist, whose sole responsibility is to ensure your safety while the dental care is being done.

Dentists trained to administer general anesthesia have received a minimum of two years of specialized advanced training and have been certified.

Monitoring devices, some of which evaluate breathing, blood pressure and heart rate, will be employed to help ensure the safety of the procedure.

All aspects of your medical history, including any drugs you may be taking, should be disclosed to the dentist before any dental care.

Who Is a Candidate For Sleep Dentistry?
People who have...

• high fear
• traumatic dental experiences
• difficulty getting numb
• a bad gag reflex
• very sensitive teeth
• complex dental problems
• limited time to complete dental care

People who...

• hate needles and shots!
• hate the noises, smells, and tastes associated with dental care
• are afraid or embarassed about their teeth

Nitrous Oxide

Nitrous Oxide Gas, often referred to as laughing gas or sweet air, is an effective anesthetic drug that has many benefits for patients seeking dental treatment.

The benefits of nitrous oxide are many, and the risks are few. The gas is administered with a comfortable mask placed over the nose, and the patient is instructed to breathe in through the nose and out through their mouth. As a precaution, patients should not eat anything for about two hours prior to use of the gas. The patient begins to feel a pleasant level of sedation in anywhere from 30 seconds to three or four minutes. The cheeks and gums will also begin to feel numb in about a third of the patients.
After the gas is adjusted to the appropriate dose, and the patient is relaxed and sedated, the dentist can comfortably give the injection (if needed) to the patient, and then proceed with dental treatment. After the treatment is completed, the patient is given pure oxygen to breathe for about five minutes, and all the effects of sedation are usually reversed. Unlike IV sedation or general anesthesia, the patient can almost always leave the office by themselves, without an escort.

Nitrous oxide has few side effects. High doses can cause nausea in some patients, and about 10% of patients do not benefit from it. Patients that are claustrophobic or have blocked nasal passages cannot use nitrous oxide effectively. Nitrous oxide is one of the safest anesthetics available. Interestingly, it is also routinely used by anesthesiologists for general anesthesia in combination with other more potent gases.

It is especially useful for fearful patients as well as young children. The effect of nitrous oxide is often remarkable. A patient that was anxious just a minute or two before treatment will become relaxed and calm. If you are nervous before or during dental treatment, ask your dentist if he or she has nitrous oxide available, it works wonders!