Manage Your Dental Anxiety with Nitrous Oxide
Nitrous oxide is a completely safe and effective way to manage pain and reduce dental anxiety during treatment for both children and adults. Commonly known as laughing gas, this colourless and odourless gas provides mild sedation that wears off quickly, allowing you to return to your regular routine soon after your appointment.
Contrary to common belief, nitrous oxide doesn’t put patients to sleep. Instead, it gently guides them into a relaxed state. While in this state, sensitivity to pain is significantly reduced, along with the gag reflex and intense anxiety.
What Happens During Nitrous Oxide Sedation?
Discussion
Before proceeding with nitrous oxide treatment, your dentist will review your medical history to ensure it’s a safe choice for you. There are certain situations where nitrous oxide may not be the best option. It should be avoided if any of the following conditions apply to you:
- You’re in the early stages of pregnancy (first trimester)
- You have respiratory conditions or difficulties
- You are deficient in vitamin B-12
- You have a history of substance misuse
- You experience mental health conditions
Quick and Efficient
After your dentist confirms that nitrous oxide is a suitable option for you, the treatment will begin. Administering nitrous oxide is straightforward — the dentist will place a mask over your nose and mouth, guiding you to breathe deeply and relax.
One of the main reasons nitrous oxide is a popular choice is its quick recovery time. After your treatment, the dentist will provide at least 5 minutes of pure oxygen to help clear the nitrous oxide from your system, ensuring the effects wear off rapidly.
After Care
If numbing medication was used, you might still feel some numbness in your face, but the relaxing effects of the nitrous oxide will wear off quickly once the mask is removed. After your dental treatment, you’ll be able to safely return to your regular activities, like work and eating.
The Cost of Nitrous Oxide Treatment in Wellesley
The cost of nitrous oxide treatment varies based on your insurance coverage. The good news is that many insurance plans fully cover this procedure. With most plans, you can expect to pay anywhere from $0 to $80 or more. Without insurance, the cost may be $1500 or higher.
We recommend reaching out to your insurance provider for a quote before visiting our Wellesley dental clinic.
Contact us today
to schedule an initial consultation & exam.
Your consultation will include an examination of everything from your teeth, gums and soft tissues to the shape and condition of your bite. Generally, we want to see how your whole mouth looks and functions. Before we plan your treatment we want to know everything about the health and aesthetic of your smile, and, most importantly, what you want to achieve so we can help you get there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is safe. Before any procedure, we thoroughly review your medical history to determine if sedation dentistry is the best option for you.
Sedation typically makes you feel relaxed and drowsy quite quickly. Some patients describe a mild, tingly sensation. It’s also possible to experience slight amnesia, meaning you may not remember much of the procedure afterward.
Most sedation dentistry doesn’t actually involve putting you to sleep. Instead, it aims to help you feel deeply relaxed. In fact, many patients remain conscious but won’t recall much of the procedure once it’s completed.
Yes, we recommend arranging for a friend or family member to drive you home and stay with you after the procedure. It’s essential to let the sedation wear off completely and allow your body to rest before returning to your regular activities.
Recovery time varies depending on the type of sedation used, but you can expect any lingering drowsiness to last between 2 to 8 hours. We suggest taking the day off to rest, allowing up to 24 hours before resuming your normal routine.
Hear are some of the voices with great things to say about the way we do dental care!
Kids Love Wellesley Dental
Google Verified Patient Reviews
