Are traditional braces better than Invisalign? Ask a dentist near Oakville

It’s estimated that 35 million Americans face serious apprehension and anxiety about dental procedures. An additional 10 to 12 million Americans are “dental phobic” and avoid dental care altogether. Dr. Shefali Tuli and her team at Burloak Centre Dentistry in Oakville, ON want to help patients with this fear they face using nitrous gas for dental sedation.

Sedation Dentistry

When you think about having your teeth cleaned or receiving even a minor filling, does your body tense up with anxiety or fear? It’s important to understand that you are not alone in this. Many people are so afraid of the dentist that they don’t ever go in, even if it’s just for a routine cleaning. For those who avoid seeing the dentist or who face this anxiety leading up to each appointment, sedation dentistry may be the answer. Sedation may be used for everything from the most invasive procedures to the most basic exams in order to put the patient at ease.

Nitrous Oxide

Nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas, is an odourless, colourless gas that, when combined with oxygen, helps put the patient into a state of relaxation during dental procedures. The gas (along with the oxygen mixed in) is inhaled by the patient using a mask that is gently placed over the nose before starting the procedure so the patient is free of any anxieties or fears. Nitrous oxide is completely safe and incredibly effective and, unlike many other sedation methods, is not long-lasting. Once the mask is removed, the effects will wear off within minutes and you are free to drive yourself home.

The Experience of Nitrous Oxide

If you have never used nitrous oxide for sedation purposes, you may wonder how it feels? Patients who have been administered laughing gas can expect to experience:

• A warm and tingling sensation spread throughout the arms and legs
• A feeling of overall well-being and euphoria. Some patients report a feeling of floating
• Sleepiness and difficulty keeping their eyes open

After the sedation, it’s common for the patient to not remember much from the procedure. Patients find that the use of nitrous oxide for sedation provides an incredibly effective experience that allows them to overcome any dental fear or anxiety that they felt going into the procedure. If you are facing these fears and are interested in this form of sedation therapy, please give Dr. Shefali Tuli and her team at Burloak Centre Dentistry in Oakville, ON a call at (905) 581-4436 to set up an appointment.