Transcript

Hi there, and welcome to All Things Dental, the podcast that puts your smile first, brought to you by York Village Dental, your trusted dental experts in York, Maine. Does sitting in the dental chair make you nervous? You’re not alone. In today’s episode, we’re exploring how sedation dentistry can help make dental anxiety a thing of the past.

Oh, absolutely. That anxiety is such a real barrier for so many people. It stops them getting care they really need.

And you’re spot on. And it’s not just about feeling comfy in the chair. Sedation dentistry fundamentally enables better overall oral health.

You know, it lets folks get treatments they might otherwise just, well, avoid forever. And that can lead to much bigger problems later. Okay, so let’s unpack this a bit.

Because sedation dentistry, it sounds like maybe one specific thing, but it actually covers quite a range, doesn’t it? What exactly is it? That’s a really good point. It’s definitely not one size fits all. It’s very much tailored to what you need, your anxiety level.

So at one end, you’ve got minimal sedation. You feel super relaxed, really calm, but you’re like completely awake and aware. Then you can go up to moderate sedation.

Sometimes people call it conscious sedation. That puts you in a deeper relaxation state. You might feel drowsy, maybe even nod off a bit, but you can still be easily woken up.

You’ll respond if the team speaks to you or, you know, gently touches your arm. Oh, okay. So it’s not typically like being put to sleep the way you might be for, say, major surgery, general anesthesia.

Exactly right. Most of the time in dentistry, we’re talking about conscious sedation. The aim isn’t to be unconscious.

It’s profound relaxation and comfort, but you remain able to communicate. And that’s actually important because you can still cooperate if needed, like turning your head while feeling totally at ease. Right.

That makes sense. Now, here’s where it gets really interesting. How do you actually get someone into that relaxed state? I know there are a couple of different ways.

Let’s start with the one most people have probably heard of, nitrous oxide. That’s a laughing gas, isn’t it? It is. That’s the famous one.

Nitrous oxide or N2O is probably the most well-known, most widely used type of minimal sedation. It’s a colorless, odorless gas. It’s been used safely for, wow, over 150 years now.

You just breathe it in through a little mask that sits comfortably over your nose. How it works is it gently depresses your central nervous system. And very quickly, like within minutes, you start feeling this wave of calm.

People often say they feel a bit lightheaded, maybe some tingling. And yeah, that feeling of euphoria or giddiness that gives it the laughing gas name. Wow, that sounds incredibly appealing for anyone who feels tense just thinking about the dentist.

What makes it so popular? Why choose that option? Well, there are quite a few reasons. A huge one is how fast it works and how fast it wears off. You feel the effects in just a couple of minutes.

And then, critically, when the procedure’s done, the gas is turned off, you breathe pure oxygen for a few minutes. And the effects just vanish almost as quickly as they started. Oh, really? That quick? Yeah.

And that rapid recovery is a massive benefit because usually you can get right back to your normal day almost immediately. You can often even drive yourself home. That is a big difference compared to other types of sedation people might know from hospital procedures.

Absolutely. That quick bounce back is a major draw. Another key thing is it’s highly adjustable.

The dentist can easily fine-tune the level during the procedure just by changing the mix of nitrous oxide and oxygen. So they can dial it up or down. Precisely.

If you feel you need a bit more relaxation, they adjust it. If you feel maybe a bit too relaxed, they can bring it down. It makes for a really personalized experience.

Plus, it’s minimally invasive, right? Just breathing through a mask. It significantly cuts down anxiety, makes things way more comfortable, especially for longer appointments. And it’s considered very, very safe, suitable for almost everyone, kids right through to older adults.

That makes it super versatile. Okay. So who’s the ideal person for nitrous oxide then? Who is it best suited for? Well, it works for a really wide range of people who just want a more comfortable dental visit.

It’s particularly great if you have, say, mild to moderate dental anxiety or fear or maybe a low pain threshold, or you just feel generally nervous. It’s excellent for kids who might be a bit worried or find it hard to sit still. Also, people with strong gag reflex often find it helps a lot by relaxing those muscles.

Oh, interesting. Yeah. And it’s a good option if you need maybe longer work done, but you really want to be able to drive yourself home right after.

First-timers too, it can help create a really positive first experience, and it can be very helpful for individuals with certain special needs where being calm is key for treatment. Safety is always the big question, isn’t it? When using nitrous oxide, what are the main safety points and are there side effects? Safety is absolutely paramount. And look, when it’s given by a trained dental team and they’re monitoring your heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen levels the whole time, nitrous oxide is considered exceptionally safe.

Really, side effects, they’re uncommon. And if they do happen, they’re usually very mild and temporary. You might feel a bit lightheaded, maybe that tingling in your hands or feet, perhaps feel a bit warm.

Very rarely, someone might feel a little nauseous or get a slight headache, but honestly, these almost always disappear the moment the gas stops and you get that oxygen. Okay. That’s reassuring.

And it’s non-addictive, non-toxic, non-allergenic. You can even use it safely for multiple visits if needed. No problem there.

Got it. So nitrous oxide, quick, adjustable, fast recovery. Great option.

Yeah. But you mentioned other methods. Oral sedation was another one discussed.

How does that compare? Sounds quite different. It is, yeah. Quite different in how it’s used and how it feels.

Oral sedation means taking a prescribed pill, usually about an hour before your appointment. Often it’s a type of benzodiazepine, something like Triazolam. The big differences compared to nitrous are the onset time and how long it lasts.

With the pill, it takes longer to kick in, usually around 30 to 60 minutes. But once it does, the relaxation effect lasts much, much longer. Often for several hours after your procedure is totally finished.

Ah, okay. So with oral sedation, driving yourself home after, definitely not an option. Absolutely not.

No way. Because the effects stick around and they’re designed to make you quite drowsy, deeply relaxed. You must have someone drive you to the appointment and home again.

And you’ll need to plan on just taking it easy for the rest of that day while the medication wears off. Oral sedation is also less adjustable during the actual procedure than nitrous. The dose is kind of set once you take the pill.

It often leads to a deeper level of relaxation or drowsiness. It’s actually pretty common for patients to drift off to sleep during their appointment with oral sedation. I see.

Now, something really important to understand, whichever sedation type you’re considering nitrous or oral, is that we still use a local anesthetic. You know, the injection to numb the specific spot we’re working on. The sedation handles the anxiety, makes you feel relaxed, less aware of what’s happening.

But the local anesthetic is what stops you feeling any actual pain from the dental work itself, like drilling or deep cleaning. It’s that combination, calm mind, numb mouth, that makes the whole thing truly comfortable. That makes perfect sense, tackling both sides.

The mental worry and the physical feeling. And I saw something really interesting mentioned about making even that numbing injection more comfortable. Something called buffered anesthetics.

What’s that all about? Yes. This is a fantastic development. Really focus on patient comfort right from that very first step of getting numb.

See, traditional local anesthetics, the ones used for decades, they have an acidic pH level. And it’s that acidity that causes the stinging or burning feeling some people notice when it’s injected. Buffered anesthetics are different.

They’re adjusted, using something like sodium bicarbonate, to a pH level much closer to your body’s own natural tissue pH. So it’s like making the injection feel smoother, less irritating when it goes in. Exactly.

By neutralizing that acidity, the solution just feels much more comfortable being administered. And the benefits are actually twofold, which is great, especially if you’re anxious or sensitive. First, like you said, it dramatically reduces or even gets rid of that stinging or burning feeling during the injection itself.

And second, because the pH is closer to your body’s, the anesthetic actually gets absorbed and starts working faster. So you get numb quicker and often more profoundly. It’s a really key part of enhancing the whole sedation experience, making sure even the very start of the visit is as easy as possible.

It’s definitely something that more forward-thinking practices are prioritizing. Like at York Village Dental, Dr. Ryan Smith really believes in using these kinds of cutting-edge techniques for maximum patient ease. Okay, so pulling this all together, having these options like nitrous oxide and oral sedation, then adding in techniques like buffered anesthetics for the numbing.

What does this ultimately mean for someone who really struggles with dental visits? It means a completely different experience is possible now. It truly is. It means overcoming that dental anxiety is actually achievable.

It can transform visits from something you dread into something totally manageable, maybe even, dare I say, comfortable. It lets people finally get treatments they’ve been putting off, which stops small problems turning into big, painful, expensive ones down the line. Right.

That makes a huge difference. Yeah. And it can even potentially mean you get more dental work done in fewer visits because you’re so relaxed.

Saves you time, saves trips. Ultimately it leads to much better oral health. And honestly, that can positively impact your overall physical well-being too.

So what should someone expect if they decide, okay, I want to try this? What happens during a sedation appointment? Well, the very first step is always a good chat with your dentist. You’ll talk about your specific worries, your health history, what kind of treatment you need, and together you figure out which sedation option is the best fit for you. They’ll explain exactly what to expect.

Then on the day, depending on what you chose, you might breathe the nitrous through the mask or you’ll have taken your pill beforehand. If you need local anesthetic for the work area, they’ll give that, probably using the buffered kind for comfort. And you’ll feel things get numb pretty quickly.

Throughout the whole procedure, the dental team keeps a close eye on your vital signs, heart rate, breathing, oxygen, safety first, always. You’ll feel relaxed, calm, and often a really nice side effect, especially with oral sedation, is a bit of amnesia. Amnesia, like you don’t remember it.

Yeah. You might have very little memory or even no memory at all of the actual time the treatment was happening. It can make an hour-long appointment feel like just a few minutes past, huge plus for anxious patients.

And then, recovery. Like we said, quick return to normal after nitrous. But need a ride and take it easy after oral sedation.

Exactly. You’ll get clear instructions for aftercare too. It really does sound like these options, nitrous, oral sedation, buffered anesthetics, are absolute game changers.

Yeah. Especially for anyone whose fear has been holding them back from getting care. It seems clear that places really focus on patient comfort, like where Dr. Ryan Smith practices at York Village Dental.

They’re making the whole experience so much better by tailoring things and using these advanced techniques. You know, it brings up an interesting thought. If anxiety is what’s stopping you from getting essential dental care, think about how taking that step, using sedation dentistry to manage the fear, how that might not just improve your smile, but maybe boost your confidence, improve your overall quality of life.

Something to consider. For more information on sedation dentistry, be sure to visit York Village Dental’s website at YorkVillageDental.com. Or better still, call them today at 207-363-6551 to book your appointment for a free consultation. You’ll be glad you did.

Thank you for joining us for today’s conversation on Sedation Dentistry. I hope you enjoyed it and that we will see you again for our next fun episode of All Things Dental. Until next time, stay safe and stay healthy.

Goodbye, folks.

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