Nitrous Oxide – Doylestown, PA

Many patients experience anxiety around dental visits, especially if they’re undergoing a major procedure that requires sedation. It’s only natural to wonder whether there are negative effects either during its application or after the fact once it wears off.

Fortunately, sedation dentistry is usually harmless when it’s administered by a qualified professional. Nitrous oxide specifically is considered the safest for the most amount of people. However, before deciding whether this medication is right for you, Dr. Rakowsky will update your medical history and examine your current dental condition to avoid risking your oral or general well-being.

Multiple medications can be used for dental sedation, producing a range of different sensations. That said, Dr. Rakowsky currently offers nitrous oxide (laughing gas), which is well-known for causing a euphoric or giggly sensation.

This medication doesn’t technically numb pain, but it does affect the oxygen in your body to keep it from reaching your brain to reduce pain sensitivity. It doesn’t necessarily numb you (that’s what topical anesthetics are for), but it keeps you relaxed and content. You may feel tingling in your arms and legs, or feel sleepy and want to drift off.   

The drug is administered through a mask placed over your nose while Dr. Rakowky works and wears off moments after you stop inhaling it.

It’s natural to worry that being sedated means that you’ll be forced into a state of unconsciousness, which can trigger panic in a lot of people. Thankfully, nitrous oxide doesn’t “knock you out”. You’ll be awake enough to respond to Dr. Rakowsky’s questions or instructions but might experience some mental fog or memory loss afterward. Many anxiety-prone patients consider this an added benefit because they don’t want to remember every detail of their time spent in the dental chair.

Typically, dental sedatives are safe for most people, but that doesn’t mean it’s ideal for everyone’s circumstances. There are some instances in which it can put your health at risk. Our team might not recommend nitrous oxide if you:

• Suffer from sleep apnea.
• Take certain medications that complicate sedation.
• Are pregnant in the first or third trimester.
• Have had middle ear surgery.
• Have a respiratory condition like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

If you’re unsure whether you’re a good candidate for sedation dentistry, the best way to find out is to contact us and schedule a consultation!

It’s not recommended for any patient who is pregnant to receive dental sedation, even nitrous oxide sedation in Doylestown. This is because the drugs involved in sedation can pass through the placenta. During your first trimester, sedation drugs can encourage premature labor. If you were in dire need of a dental treatment, the safest time to offer sedation is typically during the second trimester, but most dentists recommend that procedures that require sedation wait until after the pregnancy whenever possible.

The cost of sedation dentistry will largely depend on whether or not your dental insurance plan covers the service. Our team at Dr. Terry F. Rakowsky Family & Cosmetic Dentistry will conduct a benefits check with your insurance plan and let you know how much the expected out-of-pocket cost will be before moving forward with treatment. We’ll also file dental insurance claims on your behalf to maximize your benefits if they do cover the cost of dental sedation.

If you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to contact our front desk staff!

We offer nitrous oxide sedation, which is one of the gentlest and shortest-lasting methods of sedation available. After your procedure is complete, our team will have you breathe in oxygen to flush the effects from your system. In most cases, our patients who receive nitrous oxide sedation are able to carry on with the rest of their day as they normally would without any downtime.

Sedation and local anesthesia do two very different things. While sedation helps ease anxiety, fear, and nervousness, it doesn’t numb the treatment area. It can dull your senses and nerves, but our team will also likely administer local anesthesia if it’s necessary to ensure you don’t feel any discomfort or pain.

Nitrous oxide sedation, or any method of dental sedation, does not put you to sleep. While it can make you groggy and relaxed, sometimes so much so that you fall asleep, it doesn’t work like anesthesia and renders you unconscious. Throughout your treatment, you’ll remain able to respond to our team’s requests, including being able to answer our questions and being aware of what’s happening around you.