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Nitrous oxide Highlands Ranch dentist, Denver Dentist
History of Nitrous Oxide
Fear and anxiety of dentistry is one of the reasons many dental patients either delay necessary dental treatment or avoid care altogether Highlands Ranch Dentist Dr. Candace DeLapp and Dr. James DeLapp also provide fear/anxiety-lowering treatment using nitrous oxide/oxygen dental sedation for our dental patients in Lone Tree, Castle Pines, Parker, Ken Caryl, Greenwood Village and Denver Colorado. Nitrous oxide/oxygen sedation in Dentistry provides for many, “just enough relief” from the dental anxiety and fear that they have. For many dental patients this relief is all they need to have to accomplish their care.
Nitrous oxide/ oxygen sedation has been used in dentistry and medicine since the 1700’s.and was “discovered” by Joseph Priestley. In the late 1700’s and early 1800’s “laughing gas” was a popular source of entertainment and enjoyment for the youth of this period. In 1844 a local dentist, Dr. Horace Wells, made the intellectual jump from entertainment to medical and dental procedures and is considered to be the “Father of Modern Anesthesiology”. Today nitrous oxide is used extensively in both medicine and dentistry.
Advantages and Indications of Nitrous oxide/oxygen Sedation in Dentistry
Nitrous oxide (laughing gas) has several advantages and indications in the dental setting and includes but are not limited to:
q Nitrous oxide/oxygen is well tolerated by “most”dental patients
q The dental patient “may” drive to and from the appointment
q It is simple to administer and monitor
q It is exceedingly safe with few side effects
q Is effective in mitigating the anxiety of “most” dental patients
q Helps effectively manage medically compromised dental patients (cardiovascular, respiratory, and cerebrovascular diseases to name a few)
q Helps reduces gagging in many dental patients
q Recovery from the effects of nitrous oxide/oxygen sedation occurs in minutes
q There appears to be no hangover or lingering effects once the nitrous is flushed from the patients system.
Disadvantages and Contraindication of Nitrous oxide/oxygen
q There is a certain percentage of patients whom are not effected by nitrous oxide (laughing gas)
q Nitrous oxide works poorly in dental patients with severe behavioral problems, upper respiratory tract infection, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and pregnancy to name a few.
q Occasional nausea or shivering can occur both during or after administration
Costs of Nitrous oxide/oxygen Sedation in Dentistry at ourHighlands Ranch Dental office
The cost of nitrous oxide (laughing gas) in Highlands Ranch Dentists ,Dr. Candace DeLapp and Dr. James DeLapp’s office is under $50 (circa 2009) and is a cost effective way to deliver dental treatment for those dental patients with mild anxiety. Patients with moderate to severe anxiety may need to consider other options including:
q Oral pre-medication
q IV sedation (with a nurse anesthetist)
q General anesthesia in a hospital setting
Summary of Nitrous oxide (laughing gas) sedation for dental patients Highlands Ranch
In today’s dental healthcare setting, patients have a variety of methods that can be employed to reduce dental anxiety and facilitate dental treatment. Please feel free to discuss your particular situation with Highlands Ranch dentists, Dr. James DeLapp and Dr. Candace DeLapp. Cottonwood Dental Groups P.C. serves those Colorado dental patients living in the Lone Tree, Castle Pine,Denver and the Parker Colorado area.
(303) 694-9740
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