912-354-9541
Are you, or your child, nervous about going to the dentist? Does the thought of an upcoming appointment bring up feeling of mild to moderate anxiety? You are not the only person to suffer from dental phobia. You may want to consider using nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas, to help calm these nerves.
Laughing gas is odorless, colorless and is fast acting. It is commonly used in dentistry because it has been widely accepted as being relatively safe. It is blended with oxygen and administered through a mask. Generally, once the gas is inhaled, your nerves or agitation may ease, and you can begin to relax while staying alert and aware. The effects should wear off a few minutes after the treatment has ended and our dentist administers oxygen through the mask.
If the appointment is for your child, you should know that laughing gas is actually the preferred method of sedation if they are nervous. You can always discuss your options with our dentist before an appointment if you would like.
Other non-sedation alternatives can include meditation, visualization or keeping your mind busy. If you do not want to utilize sedation dentistry, you could try a form of meditation to relax your nerves. You may also find active visualization to be another helpful form of stress relief. This is where you picture yourself in a location that makes you happy and concentrate on that imagery. You could also try using objects like a fidget spinner or bringing in music on a device that you can listen to.
If you live in Savannah, Georgia, and would like to know if nitrous oxide could help you with dental anxiety, please call Groover Family Dentistry at 912-354-9541. Dr. Michael J. Groover wants you to be relaxed as he cares for your dental health.