admin
May 05, 2021
Children, as well as adults, struggle with anxiety or fear during a dental appointment. The surgical instruments going into the mouth can cause extreme nervousness and make it unbearable for the person to sit in the chair.
Thus, dentists in Hope Island and across the world rely on happy gas that helps in turning the ordeal into a comfortable experience for patients. It helps in relaxation and feeling happy while sitting in the dentist’s chair, which makes it easier for the practitioner to complete the treatment.
However, many people do not know much about it except watching the funny videos of sedated patients on social media. So, here is a rundown on what is happy gas and how it works.
What is Happy Gas Dentistry?
Happy gas is dental nitrous oxide, which when mixed with oxygen makes a person calm and comfortable. It can be used on adults and children as it is much safer and convenient to administer than general anaesthesia.
The gas is supplied through a small mask that is placed on the nose. It does not have any bad smell and is colourless, which makes it easy to inhale. The patient can inhale it at a normal pace, and the gas starts showing its effect in just five minutes.
Sedation makes the person drowsy and dreamy, so they are not affected by their surroundings. However, they are awake and conscious, and it allows them to listen to the instructions of the dentist and act accordingly.
The effect of the gas wears off quickly and it does not have any side effects if the level of the gas is maintained effectively by the practitioner. The local sedation method begins before the treatment so that the person stops feeling uneasy or jumpy.
With the patient becoming immune to pain or use of instruments inside the mouth, the job of the practitioner becomes less complicated.
How Does the Happy Gas Work?
Many people think that it makes you laugh. However, it does not make you break into a giggling spree. It can make the patient lightheaded and feel a tingling sensation, or they may find it challenging to move their limbs.
They may laugh a bit as it makes them happy, but it will not be a burst of constant laughter. Sedation makes the procedure painless and allows the dentist to work without any interruptions or disruption.
The gas displaces the air in the lungs and stops oxygen from moving to the brain and blood, which slows down the nervous system and makes the patient feel relaxed.
Some people can even start hallucinating after inhaling the gas. It wears off within two minutes after the gas is stopped and the patient is made to breathe oxygen through the mask for around five minutes to avoid headaches.
The inhaling of pure oxygen makes sure that nitrous oxide is moved out of the lungs and the patient gains his/her attentiveness back. If the practitioner allows, adult patients can leave unescorted from the clinic and drive back home.
When Does The Dentist Use Happy Gas?
Happy gas sedation is used for people who are anxious or scared of getting their teeth examined and treated. It is helpful in dealing with children who become uncooperative or start crying after sitting in the dentist’s chair.
Practitioners also use them for people who have special healthcare needs or those who feel nauseated on the insertion of instruments in the mouth. It is also utilised when the procedure is long, and it is difficult to make a fearful child or adult sit comfortably for the duration.
The common procedures that need happy gas sedation include same-day crowns, filling of a cavity, placement of veneers, dental implants, and wisdom tooth extraction.
It cannot be administered on pregnant women in their first trimester and people suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The practitioner will not allow the use of happy gas in case the patient has a deficiency of vitamin B12 or has been a drug addict in the past.
It is also not recommended for people suffering from mental health problems. Your dentist will check your medical history before using happy gas for sedation.
What Are the Side Effects of Using Happy Gas?
Nitrous oxide does not cause any alarming side effects if the practitioner makes sure that the level of the gas is not too high. It can lead to some issues if the level of gas changes quickly.
Thus, its titration with oxygen plays a significant role in averting the side effects. The adverse impact of this sedation includes the feeling of nausea or vomiting, blurry vision, shivering, sleepiness, fatigue, headache, and profuse sweating.
The feeling of nausea can be avoided by having a light meal before the sedation and not eating anything too heavy to digest for almost three hours after the treatment is completed.
Children should not be given milk, smoothies, pulpy juices before the treatment or the night before the appointment. They can have clear liquids two hours before the treatment begins.
Also, the practitioner will make sure to check the heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen level and temperature of the patient before sedation to ensure the safety of the procedure.
Conclusion
Nitrous oxide sedation offers the safest pain relief, and its effect disappears quickly. Thus, most dentists in Hope Island utilise happy gas to treat patients who are feeling terrified and children who are being uncooperative.
