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If you’re someone who is ordinarily anxious about going to the dentist’s office, sedation can make getting your routine care as easy as possible. Nitrous oxide, for example, is capable of taking even the most panicky patients and helping them stay calm for the duration of treatment.
However, preceding the procedure, some patients are made anxious by the prospect of sedation, worrying whether these drugs are safe. If you’re in that situation, here’s what you should know.
Is Nitrous Oxide Sedation Actually Safe?
As with any kind of sedative, or procedure in general, there is of course some risk associated with the use of sedatives. For this reason, dentists have to complete extensive study before they’re able to offer sedatives to patients so that they can fully understand their use.
That means that when you receive nitrous oxide sedation from a qualified dentist, you can expect the procedure to be completely safe. Your oral health professional will fully understand the potential risks associated with the use of these drugs and will be able to keep you in good condition for the duration of the treatment.
Who Is Not a Good Candidate for Nitrous Oxide Sedation?
Part of mitigating the risks associated with the procedure has to do with ensuring that you are a good candidate for dental sedation in the first place. This involves analyzing your medical history, checking to see whether any medications you’re on or health problems you have could cause complications when you take sedatives.
Who Can Take Advantage of Sedatives?
The truth of the matter is that sedatives, particularly nitrous oxide, are incredibly low risk when used in a dental context. Most patients who are interested in using nitrous oxide to deal with dental anxiety will be able to do so.
Everyone from children to seniors should be able to use nitrous oxide, and younger patients in particular may benefit from sedatives to help them sit still for the duration of treatment. Some patients also have strong gag reflexes or disabilities that make it hard for dentists to work; nitrous oxide can be used to relax these patients, suppressing their physiological responses.
Ultimately, most people who are interested in getting nitrous oxide sedation should be able to take advantage of what it has to offer with virtually no risk to their health.
About the Author
Dr. Vrajesh Shah believes that oral healthcare should be effective, available, and most of all, easy for patients to access. Whether it’s through nitrous oxide sedation or good old-fashioned chairside manner, he always works hard to make his dental care as easy as possible. Dr. Shah first practiced dentistry in India for ten years before moving to the U.S., where he received his Doctor of Dental Surgery from the prestigious New York University College of Dentistry.
If you have any questions about nitrous oxide, he can be reached at his website or by phone at (732) 943-1709.