Dentists have used nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, since the mid–1800s. Today, it is the most commonly used form of conscious sedation worldwide. The American Dental Association estimates that 70% of dental treatments that involve sedation use nitrous oxide.
Nitrous oxide dentists in Utah use it to help manage pain and anxiety during dental treatment. Unlike other forms of sedation, nitrous oxide does not put patients fully to sleep, so they can still hear their dentist and respond to requests or questions. Patients who have experienced nitrous oxide sedation report feeling a bit light–headed, but experiences vary between patients.
How it Works
Nitrous oxide works more quickly to provide relief than any other inhaled anesthetic because of its low solubility. When you inhale nitrous oxide, it quickly enters your bloodstream, and you immediately start feeling the anesthetic effects. When you stop breathing in nitrous oxide, it quickly leaves your bloodstream, and the effects of the anesthetic wear off. For these reasons, nitrous oxide is an excellent option for minimally invasive dental procedures. It can also be combined with local anesthesia for more involved work.
Safety
Our dentists use every possible measure to ensure patients’ safety. Negative effects from nitrous oxide are possible but typically only from chronic exposure. To help protect your body from long–term negative impact of using nitrous oxide during a dental procedure, Greater Endodontics combines nitrous oxide with oxygen. Additionally, each nitrous oxide tank has a twelve–point safety check system to ensure the nitrous oxide in use is safe and effective.
There are several other procedures dentists in Utah will utilize to ensure you are safe under the influence of nitrous oxide. The National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety (NIOHS) carefully monitors and regulates these procedures to protect both you and the medical staff administering nitrous oxide. You will be given a mask to wear that is carefully fitted to your face. You will be discouraged from speaking and asked to breathe through your nose rather than your mouth. After your procedure, you will be given 100% oxygen through your mask for five minutes to ensure that the nitrous oxide is entirely removed from your body. Afterward, you’ll be able to drive yourself home and resume normal activity.
Feel Safe and Stress–free with Greater Endodontics
As the leading dental sedation specialists in Utah, Greater Endodontics is proud to provide our patients with a range of sedation options for their dental procedures, including nitrous oxide.
We will work with you to determine the best method of sedation for your procedure based on the severity of the dental work needed and your level of anxiety about receiving treatment.
Interested in Sedation Options? Contact our Nitrous Oxide Dentist in Utah Today
Our goal is to help you feel comfortable and calm from the moment you enter our offices. We know that dental work can cause anxiety—it’s very common! We offer a range of options for our patients so that each individual can benefit from a personalized treatment plan catered to their health and emotional well–being. Contact Greater Endodontics today to learn more about our full range of dental services.
