Anethesia and Sedation

The question often arises from an anxious patient whether sedation such as nitrous oxide can substitute for "a shot." I think the anxious patient often poses the question in the hope of avoiding "the needle." The question can be answered by understanding the difference between anesthesia and sedation.

The purpose of local anesthesia is to eliminate pain during dental treatment. A topical anesthetic is sprayed to the area to make the injection more comfortable. Local anesthetics are injected into the tissues to block the nerves that transmit pain thereby numbing the mouth tissues. The numbness lasts during the one to two hour dental procedure.

Anti-anxiety agents, such as nitrous oxide, or sedatives, help you relax during dental visits and are used along with local anesthetics. Nitrous oxide provides a light level of sedation. The advantage is being able to drive to home or office shortly after the procedure. Conscious oral sedation uses oral medications in addition to nitrous oxide to produce a deeper level of sedation where a friend or relative will need to drive you home to recover after the procedure. The range of sedation is used to match the severity of the dental anxiety presented by the patient.

To better understand the range of sedation choices available to relieve anxiety, visit /www.dulski.com/oral.html. Anxiety need not be a barrier to safe and comfortable dental visits to keep your smile healthy.

Tags: Conscious Oral Sedation, Local Anethetics, Nitrous Oxide