Nitrous oxide sedation, a safe and conscious choice!
Nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas, was popular in the 19th century for its euphoria inducing properties. Today, it is recognized for its calming and relaxing properties, particularly in dentistry. The colourless, odourless gas has a slightly sweet taste and can be inhaled risk-free using cutting-edge equipment.
The analgesic effect of the nitrous oxide acts to enhance comfort while lowering the quantity of injected anaesthetics used during dental treatments. Patients remain fully conscious throughout the treatment, but are in a calm and relaxed state, fully able to communicate with the care team at all times.
Advantages:
1. Reduced anxiety in children and adults alike
2. Loss of a sense of time
3. Reduced pain
4. Acts quickly (a few seconds after inhalation)
5. Effects wear off rapidly. 5-10 minutes after the end of use
6. Makes dental treatment more comfortable
7. Positive memory of the visit to the dentist (particularly important for children)
What about toxicity?
Nitrous oxide doesn’t accumulate in the body, even after repeated exposure. It has no toxic effects on patients when administered in proper dosage. The gas mixture flows continuously through a special nasal mask, making it an ideal method of sedation for children and anxious adults.
Sensations lors de la sédation au protoxyde d’azote
1. Soulagement, bien-être
2. Détente
3. Impression de flotter
4. Plaisir, sourire, fou rire
5. Changement du timbre de la voix
6. Déformation auditive et visuelle
Are you a good candidate?
Despite the ever-advancing science of local anaesthetics to improve patient comfort, anxiousness is still fairly common.
As with any type of sedation, your dentist will make sure that your general state of health makes you suitable for nitrous oxide sedation.
Lowering anxiety has only positive effects during appointments. It enhances the overall experience and is much more comfortable for both you and the care team. A positive experience is likely to lead to more regular visits and better dental health.
Nitrous oxide is particularly useful if one or more of the following situations apply to you:
1. You experience gag reflex when an instrument is inserted in your mouth;
2. You experience anxiety at the dentist;
3. You are apprehensive about general anaesthesia.
Consult Dr. Aya Endo at the Parisloft Dental Centre for a full assessment or to find out more about sedation with nitrous oxide. Are you a good candidate?
How do you find a good dentist?
There are many dentists’ offices and it may be hard to choose among them. Here are a few criteria you can consider that will help you find a real gem.
Proximity
To free up a busy schedule and make it easier to obtain an appointment, find a dental centre near home. This winning strategy takes travel time out of the equation. Finding someone close to you is extremely convenient because it avoids long trips and makes scheduling more flexible.
Emergency service
A dental centre with an emergency service allows rapid consultation if an acute situation occurs or complications arise after a dental treatment. The possibility of a consultation in under 24 hours is a value-added that you can’t ignore.
Care offered in-house
Over years of practice, a dental surgeon at a dental centre will have developed certain aspects and approaches in dentistry. Ask the receptionists what sorts of care are provided. The more types of treatment are available under one roof, the less often you will have to go elsewhere for care, unless of course your oral health requires you to see a specialist. The dental surgeon will be able to assess you and establish a treatment plan that will deal with your concerns in order of priority, as well as go over all your medical and financial options with you.
Cost of care
Beware of advertising promotions! Check what exactly is included. A complete oral exam should include certain essential elements, but some clinics will suggest a more thorough one (for example, including a panoramic X-ray). Also, a cleaning at a promotional price may not be possible, depending on the condition of your mouth. An assessment will be needed first to determine what state or condition your mouth is in. Cleaning will be modified based on how long it takes to perform it properly and remove any tartar. The longer it takes, the more you should expect it to cost.
Clean and sanitary premises
A dental clinic should be impeccable. The level of cleanliness required is of primordial importance in reducing the risks of infection and complications.
Asepsis has to be a primary concern. Regular, objective measurements (recommendations from NAOSH – North American Occupational Safety and Health joint committee) are used to assess procedures that protect patients and staff alike.
Did you know that the length of time an operation takes has an impact on your oral health and on reducing post-operative complications? An efficient team, proven work methods and a competent dental surgeon foster optimum recovery and the desired results.
Post-operative follow-up and quality of care
Post-operative follow-up is essential so your dentist can check the progress of your oral health and the absence of complications.
A good dental centre is one where you will be welcomed and helped with the choices relating to your dental health. The diagnosis and treatment options will be explained clearly and both a plan and a realistic schedule will be decided on. Treatments will be efficient, calm, professional and painless. Recommendations will be passed on and follow-up will be done, all in a clean, airy environment by a well-trained team that listens to you. Your only comment will be, “Wow!”
Everyone at the Parisloft Dental Centre is dedicated to going beyond your expectations. They’ve thought long and hard about these criteria for quality of care. They’ve defined them and work every day so that you will benefit from them. Come and see for yourself!
No more severe anxiety at the dentist! Are you the perfect candidate?
Conscious sedation is a highly effective treatment technique, though it is relatively unknown among the general public.
Do you find it hard to manage your anxiety during visits to the dentist? Do you have a strong gag reflex? Have you previously had a negative experience at the dentist? Do you have hypersensitive teeth or a fear or phobia of needles? Do you seem to have a resistance to local anesthetic?
Rather than settling for a general anesthetic or avoiding dental visits altogether for lack of simple and effective options, it's worth exploring dental treatment under conscious sedation. Conscious sedation is performed by inserting an intravenous catheter and administering a combination drug that induces a state of comfort and relaxation for the duration of the dental procedure. The technique is simple and accessible and entails few risks or complications.
Conscious sedation helps the patient remain calm and relaxed while they receive dental care. The sedative effect is very rapid and generally induces amnesia. Conscious sedation does not eliminate the need to administer a local anesthetic, but it makes the process less unpleasant. The entire procedure is performed at the dental centre in a completely safe and secure environment. Since the recovery period is short, patients can be quickly discharged and accompanied home by a responsible adult.
Before we're able to perform conscious sedation, you must qualify to receive the treatment. Your dentist will check your eligibility by reviewing your medical questionnaire with you and assessing your overall health condition. Conscious sedation administered intravenously can only be performed by dentists who have completed specialized training. The procedure is recognized and strictly regulated by the Ordre des dentistes du Québec (Order of Dentists of Quebec). Dr. Michael Pasoff at Centre dentaire Parisloft is highly qualified in the use of conscious sedation.
Now you no longer have to compromise your oral health for fear of going to the dentist!
Understanding your needs to serve you better
Because oral health is so closely tied to your overall state of health, your responses to the medical questionnaire play a vital role in determining the care and services you need. The comprehensive medical questionnaire is a legally binding document that covers your medical history and current physical condition. Information is required in a number of areas, including diagnosed illnesses, previous medical treatments, any medication taken (prescription and over-the-counter, including dosage and concentration), any vitamins or natural products used, allergies (to medications or food, skin or respiratory allergies, etc.), use of tobacco, alcohol or drugs and physiological changes (puberty, pregnancy, menopause, etc.).
The questionnaire also informs us of symptoms you may be experiencing, such as pain, migraines, breathing difficulties, stress, persistent cough, fever, shivers, nausea, dizziness, weight loss or weight gain. Even when these factors aren't directly related to your oral health, they ultimately impact our choice of approach and the dental care you’ll receive. The comprehensive medical questionnaire should be completed upon your first visit and at least once every five years. An up-to-date version must be signed and dated at the time of each visit, even when:
- The previous visit was the day before.
- The patient is a young child.
- The patient appears to be in excellent health.
- The treatment performed is non-invasive.
- The dental health professional knows the patient well.
You may be in excellent shape on the day of your appointment. However, if you've changed medication, received a new diagnosis or been hospitalized since your last visit, it's essential that you inform us. This information is paramount to ensuring we provide personalized, quality care that is appropriate for your needs. It tells us what additional precautions, if any, to take to ensure your treatment is safe. This minimizes the risk of complications.
Rest assured that your information will always remain confidential in accordance with the professional confidentiality standards required of all healthcare professionals.
Tooth grinding: Is it normal?
Do you ever wake up with jaw pain, particularly during periods of stress? Do migraines make it hard to function during the day? Does your partner complain that you grind your teeth at night?
If so, you may be experiencing symptoms of sleep bruxism. Sleep bruxism involves the unconscious contraction of the jaw muscles in the absence of chewing and swallowing. The condition may be static (clenching of the teeth only) or dynamic (grinding of the teeth accompanied by light lateral movements of the jaw).
Bruxism may be seen or heard by your partner, or it may be silent but accompanied by pain around the teeth or jaw. It can also be detected through a dental examination. In the latter case, a dental hygienist or dentist checks for signs of heavy wear on the teeth. Patients who suffer from bruxism often deal with stress and chronic anxiety. They typically have a frantic pace of life and have difficulty relaxing. Teeth grinding helps release some of their stress.
The consequences of bruxism on the temporomandibular joint and teeth include tooth and jaw pain (potentially radiating to the neck), migraines, worn down teeth (with or without heat and cold sensitivity associated with enamel loss) and, in severe cases, jaw dysfunction.
Whatever the condition, your dentist will recommend wearing a mouthguard overnight. Mouthguards, which are custom-made in a dental lab from an impression of your teeth, prevent teeth from making contact, thus warding off premature tooth wear. They also allow the muscles to relax considerably, which undoubtedly helps manage pain and migraines. In short, a mouthguard will improve your quality of life.
Talk to your dentist or dental hygienist!
Oral cavity cancer capsule
The process for diagnosing oral cancer sometimes begins at your dentist's office during a follow-up visit or full dental examination. First your dentist will ask you to list your symptoms. They'll then review your medical history (previous cancer diagnoses, weight loss, etc.), your family's medical history (head and neck cancer or other forms of cancer among members of your family) as well as any risk factors (smoking, use of alcohol or drugs, exposure to sunlight and ultraviolet radiation, presence of human papillomavirus, etc.).
Finally, the dentist will perform the oral exam itself. This exam is used to detect observable signs of oral cancer. The dentist will check for asymmetry in your face and smile. They’ll carefully examine your mouth and feel the areas of soft tissue like the cheeks and lips to check for masses, lesions or swelling. They’ll also feel the floor of your mouth and tongue and the roof of your mouth. Your dentist will then observe your tongue's movement and check your swallowing while carefully examining your salivary glands.
If the dentist notices anything suspicious, they may order a biopsy. In this case, they'll extract a tissue sample for laboratory analysis. The sample will be sent to a hospital pathology department to detect the presence of suspicious cellular changes. Your dentist will refer you to an ear, nose and throat specialist, who will proceed with a differential diagnosis with the help of additional tests and examinations, like endoscopy, a swallowing evaluation, X-rays, ultrasounds, CT scans or an MRI. At this stage, it's extremely important to rule out any other conditions and health problems whose signs and symptoms may be similar to those of oral cancer. A panoramic X-ray of the mouth is an indispensable method for evaluating whether cancer has spread to the jaw.
The earlier oral cancer is diagnosed, the more effective the treatments are and the higher the chance of a full recovery. At Centre dentaire Parisloft, all full dental examinations and follow-up visits include this simple yet vital assessment. Why do without?
Intraosseous anesthesia, an effective technic
All patients want a pain-free experience at the dentist. While pain management in dentistry has long been a neglected topic, today it's a major concern and a priority for your dentist.
Intraosseous anesthesia is simple to perform, effective and practically risk-free, making it a wise choice among anesthetic techniques. In fact, at some dental centres, it's the standard method used. Because the technique delivers consistent and conclusive results, practitioners often prefer it to other methods, especially since it doesn't involve any postoperative complications.
Intraosseous anesthesia (IOA) works immediately, its duration depending on the amount of anesthetic used and the type of vasoconstrictor administered. The first step is to apply anesthetic to the mucous membrane. The needle's design allows for painless application. The second step involves perforating the cortical bone by rotating the needle. This action is performed intermittently to avoid heating the site. Because the cortical bone has no nerve endings, the patient feels no pain at this stage. Your dentist will let you know in advance of the vibrating sensation and noise generated by the needle's motor. The third and final step is the slow and gradual injection of anesthetic solution. Your dentist will determine the quantity to inject and the vasoconstrictor’s concentration based on the planned operating time. The vasoconstriction effect may be felt by the patient. Specifically, the patient may experience mild tachycardia (increased heart rate), which subsides rapidly. Your dentist should inform you of this common side effect just prior to the procedure.
Intraosseous anesthesia is so effective because anesthetic fluid is injected directly inside the cancellous bone, where it can easily access the apex of the tooth requiring treatment. In other words, a local anesthetic is applied exactly where it will be most effective. Indeed, the further the injection site is from the apex of the affected tooth, the more anesthetic fluid is needed. This explains the undesirable effects associated, for example, with mandibular block injections (difficulty speaking and eating, numbness and risk of biting, swelling of the face, etc.). In many cases, these inconveniences impact appearance and function for several hours.
No problem, you say? These effects may well be benign and short-lived in the majority of cases. But what if there was a method that had the same anesthetic benefit without the negative side effects? The answer is clear! Your dentist will be able to offer you the preferred technique at the right moment. You’ll already be well informed!