1100 N. Sherman Ave., Suite 103
Naperville, IL 60563
Naperville, IL 60563
Have you ever avoided the dentist due to fear and worry? Although you might feel silly about dental-related anxiety, the condition is thought to affect as many as 15% of Adults in the United States. Many people develop dental anxiety because of negative experiences with the dentist in the past. These experiences include pain, feelings of lost control, embarrassment, or even the smells and sounds associated with the dentist’s office. Dental anxiety can cause problems ranging from simple worry to full-blown panic attacks, which is why it is important to talk with Dr. Weyneth about how you are feeling. Fortunately, Sherman Oaks Dental now offers nitrous oxide on request, helping even the most anxious patients to relax and get the dental care they need.
Although there are several different kinds of sedation dentistry in Naperville, one of the most popular forms of sedation is nitrous oxide, also called laughing gas. Contrary to popular belief, the laughing gas that you inhale at the dental office is actually a mix of about 30% nitrous oxide and 70% oxygen, so you will be able to breathe normally. Laughing gas provides a mild pain relief and relaxation, offering light sedation for children, teens, and adults. Nitrous oxide is administered through a small face or nose mask, giving people the chance to enjoy sedation without interfering with dental work. Here are a few other powerful benefits of nitrous oxide sedation.
Nitrous oxide in Naperville works by being absorbed into the bloodstream and interfering with stress and pain receptors in your brain. One of the biggest benefits of nitrous oxide is that it is effective within about 20 seconds, helping patients to relax almost immediately. When you receive laughing gas, you may feel warm, tingly, or giggly. Many patients report that they simply feel relaxed or sleepy, helping to soothe anxiety.
Some forms of sedation, including IV sedation and oral sedation, can stay in the body for hours, which means you might have to find a ride to and from your dental appointment. However, nitrous oxide dissipates from the body extremely quickly, usually leaving no trace after 3-5 minutes after the gas stops flowing. This means that you will be able to drive home or continue your day as planned, without worrying about being groggy from sedation. If you don’t want to receive nitrous oxide for your entire procedure, the gas can even be stopped and started again, allowing you to customize your experience.
Since nitrous oxide only affects the brain temporarily and is completely eliminated from the body after a few minutes of normal breathing, it has been shown to be exceptionally safe. In fact, since nitrous oxide has been in use for years, it is one of the most studied sedatives used in dentistry and doesn’t have any negative side effects for your liver, kidneys, brain, heart, or lungs.
Some patient are especially sensitive to medications, which is another reason nitrous oxide is preferred. Laughing gas can be given in incremental doses slowly until the desired level of sedation is reached, preventing overdoses or under medication. Because it can be controlled so carefully, dentists can also adjust nitrous oxide levels in order to offer more or less pain treatment during the procedure.
Unlike other sedatives, nitrous oxide interferes with certain pain receptors in the brain, offering mild analgesic properties. The pain relief benefits of laughing gas begin after about two to three minutes, and can even help some patients to avoid local anesthesia.
Nitrous oxide also doesn’t require any injections or IVs, helping people who are afraid of needles. However, because laughing gas is so effective at helping people to relax, it is frequently used along with anesthestic shots or IVs to help people to stay calm during those procedures. For example, if you are receiving dental implants and you will require IV sedation, your Naperville dentist may administer laughing gas for a few minutes while you receive an IV so that you can stay comfortable.
Some patients can become nauseous because of the smells or tastes involved with having their teeth fixed, creating the urge to gag. Unfortunately, gagging can make it hard for dentists to work effectively within the mouth. However, laughing gas has also been shown to minimize gagging, which helps to improve your restorations.
Although dental anxiety is a very real condition, the team at Sherman Oaks Dental will do everything in their power to keep you happy, comfortable, and relaxed during your procedure. If you struggle with dental anxiety, feel free to discuss the matter with Dr. Weyneth. To help you to stay comfortable, the doctor will talk with you about your sedation options. Schedule your next appointment with some of the best dentists in Naperville today.