Nitrous oxide is a type of conscious sedation that is administered through a nasal mask. After placing the gas mask over your nose, you will inhale a mix of nitrous oxide and oxygen. The quick onset of this sedative will cause you to feel the effects of euphoria, relaxation, and giddiness within just a few minutes.
This is the modest and safest sedative available in dentistry which makes it a great option for children. To prepare for this sedative, you will just need to fast for 2 hours before your appointment.
We recommend eating a light meal like some toast and drinking some water about 2 hours before your appointment. You remain aware of your surroundings while sedated and can respond to questions from the dentist. However, you may not remember the appointment afterward.
This is a deeper form of sedation, but since you remain conscious, you are still aware of your surroundings and can respond to instructions. However, you are likely to feel very sleepy and relaxed and may even fall asleep.
It will be easy to wake you up, however. Oral conscious sedation is given in the form of an anti-anxiety pill that makes you feel sluggish and drowsy.
Since it takes about an hour to kick in, you will need to take it an hour before your appointment and arrange for someone to take you to your dental appointment. To prepare for oral conscious sedation, you need to fast for 6 hours before your appointment.
Yes, dental sedation is incredibly safe when administered by a trained professional in the dental setting. However, you are always incurring some set of risks when taking any medication.
This is why our Houston dentist takes precautions by reviewing your medical history before approving you for sedation. If you are at all concerned, we can recommend that you try nitrous oxide, which is very mild and low risk in healthy patients.
Nitrous oxide leaves the body within just a couple of minutes of removing the nasal mask. This is why you will be able to resume normal activities immediately following your appointment, including driving.
The lingering effects of oral conscious sedation, however, last for 24 hours, so you will need someone to drive you home and watch over you for the rest of the day. You won’t be able to drive, drink alcohol, or sign legal documents for the next 24 hours.
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