People who avoid the dentist due to dental anxiety or dental phobia can benefit from sedation dentistry and receive the treatment they need without distress. Here’s what you can expect when you opt to receive dental sedation for your appointment at the dentist!

Your Options for Dental Sedation

A common form of mild dental sedation is nitrous oxide, otherwise known as laughing gas. If you aren’t able to relax under nitrous oxide, your dentist may suggest oral sedation.

During oral sedation, your dentist will prescribe a medication, usually a pill, that you’ll take
before you come in for your appointment. Some of these medications are also administered at the dentist office during your appointment orally or intravenously [1].

In the event that you need extensive dental work or have a deep fear of the dentist that
moderate oral or intravenous sedation doesn’t help, you may need to consider general
anesthesia, in which you’ll be completely unconscious for your entire appointment.

General anesthesia may also be considered for children with disabilities who need to receive dental treatment but do not respond well to dentist visits [2].

How You Can Expect to Feel

The goal of sedation dentistry is to provide anxiety relief for patients, so you can expect to feel more relaxed and less nervous with sedation dentistry.

For nitrous oxide, you’ll be awake and aware during your appointment but will feel calm. Oral sedation will relax patients, although they may feel drowsy or groggy. Moderate intravenous sedation may make patients fall asleep but will not induce a deep sleep.

Patients who opt for general anesthesia will be completely or almost completely unconscious during the procedure and will recover at the dental office before going home [3].

What Happens After Your Appointment

Dental sedation can affect everyone differently. The effects of laughing gas don’t last long, so some patients may be able to drive themselves home after their appointment.

However, for more moderate and heavy forms of sedation, you’ll need to have someone drive you to and from your appointment, as the effects of the medication will need time to wear off. During this time, patients can expect to feel sleepy and may not remember the procedure.

Some patients may experience a headache, nausea, or dizziness following their procedure. Your dentist and their staff will be sure you recover from the anesthesia or medication before you go home.

Is Dental Sedation the Right Choice for You?

Dental sedation isn’t for everyone. However, for the right people, dental sedation can make the difference between getting the treatment they need to have a healthy smile and a lifetime of dental issues.

Talk to your dentist about dental sedation to learn more about your options and if sedation could help you relax during your next appointment!

Sources:
1. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/a/anesthesia-and-sedation
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5564153/
3. https://www.dentalfearcentral.org/help/sedation-dentistry/iv-sedation/

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What Procedures It’s Used In

Laughing gas can be used for any procedure in which the patient feels anxious, has a gag reflex that may prevent dental care, a patient who cannot receive other forms of anesthesia, or children who can’t tolerate dental procedures, such as those with special needs.

Does Laughing Gas Cause Adverse Reactions?

Although reactions from laughing gas are rare, they can happen in some patients. They usually are the result of too much laughing gas or from the gas being inhaled too rapidly. Patients who have reactions may get headaches, feel cold or hot, feel nauseous or need to vomit, or be very tired. Your dentist will ensure you receive the right amount of laughing gas to be comfortable for your procedure.

How Laughing Gas Works

Your dentist will place a small mask—sometimes called a clown nose—over your nose and have you breathe normally through your nose. You will not fall asleep and will still be able to speak with the dentist and respond to questions.

Laughing gas usually takes a few minutes to take effect and the effects begin to wear off as soon as the mask is removed. Once the gas is discontinued, you’ll receive oxygen for about five minutes to help you avoid a headache later. Oxygen also helps to fully get rid of the gas once the effects wear off and your procedure is done!

How Should You Prepare for Laughing Gas?

You should have something on your stomach before your procedure, but eating a big meal isn’t recommended before or after the procedure. You should talk to your dentist about when it’s ok for you to eat or drive following the procedure.

Laughing Gas and Children

Laughing gas is safe for children and is actually the most commonly used form of sedation dentistry for kids. It can be very helpful in relaxing children for procedures that would otherwise be frightening or painful.

Who Should Not Receive Laughing Gas?

Women who are in their first trimester of pregnancy, patients who have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a history of substance abuse or mental health concerns should speak with their dentist prior to the procedure about whether or not nitrous oxide will be safe for them to have.

Laughing gas is always used for relatively short procedures and can help keep you relaxed and still while relieving any anxiety you may have. Laughing gas has many advantages as a form of sedation—you can talk with your dentist about whether or not laughing gas would be a good fit for your dental procedure or a dental procedure for your child that requires anesthesia.

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