CONSCIOUS SEDATION (LAUGHING GAS) FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN

Is visiting your dentist one of your worst fears? Does your upcoming dental appointment leave you in a state of panic and fear? Do you correlate dental clinic with pain and trauma? Asks Dental Specialist Dr. Sajid Shaikh (MDS) who is a Specialized Dentist with multiple training in India and abroad. He is Consultant at Masina Hospital and Lecturer in a Dental college, Mumbai. He has lots of presence in Media and publications for his meticulous works.

Dental fear and anxiety is a common problem in patients thereby resulting in avoidance of treatment and worsening of the dental problem. Sometimes even the bravest adults get scared of dental procedures.

Getting down to the root of anxiety during dental procedures.

The German Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Medicine estimates that about 61% of the population fears dental visits; 20% is considered to be highly apprehensive about these visits and around 10% avoids them completely due to severe anxiety.

Nitrous Oxide & Conscious Sedation

Inhalation sedation using nitrous oxide (commonly known as “laughing gas”) and oxygen is suitable for all age groups. Patient’s fear will reduce remarkably and they will be absolutely relaxed during the treatment. It is very safe because the patient remains awake, responsive, and breaths on his/her own. The relaxed treatment atmosphere will improve the efficiency of the treatment, giving a quality treatment to the patients.

In fact, Nitrous oxide or N₂O has been used successfully for over 160 years in the field of dentistry.

The mixture of NO and O2 is the safest, most researched, and the oldest sedative method. It is safe, non-toxic and leaves no trace in the body after the treatment.
Sedation should be considered as part of management of pain and dental anxiety, to make the treatment a pleasant learning experience.

Your sedation dentist may recommend sedation dentistry for long or multiple procedures, for children and adult with a high fear of dental care, those who have special needs, or children who find it difficult to sit still

There are three effects in the working mechanism of laughing gas.

1. It reduces anxiety, taking away your fear.

2. It kills pain, so the procedure won’t hurt.

3. It creates euphoria, so you feel all kinds of good

The key advantages of adopting Conscious Sedation are:

SAFE PAIN CONTROL
PATIENT-DOCTOR COMMUNICATION IS MAINTAINED
MINIMAL PREPARATION IS NEEDED
FAST ACTION
ADJUSTABLE SEDATION LEVEL
FLEXIBLE DURATION
QUICK RECOVERY
NO ESCORT IS NEEDED
SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN & ADULTS
LOWER COST OF SEDATION DENTISTRY

Latest Conscious Machines are Safe proof as it has

Oxygen Fail Safety System

Should an oxygen supple failure occur during a procedure, nitrous oxide supply will be immediately interrupted. Needless to mention, it is impossible to administer nitrous oxide without the oxygen supply.

A patient will never over dose on nitrous oxide. Conscious sedation machines are equipped with a maximum limit of nitrous oxide emission. The maximum N₂O for sedation is 70%. As a result, the patient will be supplied at least 30% oxygen (room air 20.5% oxygen).

Conscious Sedation in Children when it is recommended

“A baby is something you carry inside you for nine months, in your arms for three years and in your heart until the day you die" So, we know how precious is your little one to you” says Paediatric Dentist, Dr. Warisha Sajid (MDS) who is Consultant and Lecturer. Pediatrics procedures should be done with an emphasis on prevention.

Tackling misconceptions

Children should visit the dentist no later than their first birthday.

Don’t wait until the child is 3 to 4 years old. It doesn’t matter if they cry — they are expected to do so — Child dentist knows how to help them and take care of their teeth at an early age.

Maintaining happy smiles

Dr. Sajid Shaikh’s biggest advice to parents is ensuring their kids brush their teeth at least twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste, remembering to brush the top surface of their tongue. Flossing at least once a day is also crucial, accompanied by mouthwash to kill decay-causing bacteria lingering between teeth.

Using fluorided toothpaste is recommended at age 1 and mouthwash after age 4 — it’s one of the greatest things invented in dentistry.” and also parents should emphasizes the importance of a balanced diet, refraining from “extra-sugary treats” as much as possible.

Experience and expertise matter

Sometimes even cooperative children get scared of specific procedures like taking local anesthesia or the sound of air-rotor etc. Here Nitrous oxide can come to rescue owing to its anxiolytic and analgesic properties, in accomplishing dental procedures.

Sedation is the use of medication to make your child very calm for a procedure, but not sound asleep. Sedation dentistry is recommended for long or multiple procedures, for children with a high fear of dental care, those who have special needs, or children who find it difficult to sit still. Various sedation techniques using many different anesthetic agents have gained considerable popularity over the past few years.

CONCLUSION

Sedation should be considered as part of management of pain and dental anxiety, to make the treatment a pleasant learning experience. Conscious sedation is a safe method with a wide safety margin that can be used effectively in managing dental fear and anxiety and can reduce the need for general anesthesia. Inhalation sedation using nitrous oxide is the recommended choice for conscious sedation in both adults and children.

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