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Is it fairly easy to find a dentist who does N2O?

T

tylerzambori

Junior member
Joined
Sep 8, 2008
Messages
10
hi,

I just went to a dentist last Saturday, who gave up on me and kicked me
out of there - I couldn't believe it. The advertised themselves as "catering
to cowards" too. I did not act badly or anything, I just have a problem
with gagging on those digital x-ray devices.

So now I have to find another one. They gave me a referral to a dentist
who does IV sedation ,but he wanted $425 just for the cleaning and exam,
IV sedation extra. That is just plain greedy.

I wonder how many dentists actually do N2O, because the last time I went
to the dentist, a year ago, we all just struggled with it, and did not get
complete x-rays on me. Why don't they have more common sense, and
just give me something to help me with it? I dunno.

Anyway, now I dread having to call around, and just wanted to get an
idea of how common it is for dentists to use N2O these days.

Thanks!
 
Hi tyler and :welcome:

Sorry to hear your dentist visit didn't go so well but it sounds as thought it happened at a good time. Better to find out they aren't equipped to deal with any "issues" during x-rays/exam than when they are performing treatment. That doesn't make their behavior right but I'm glad you found out early and are looking for someone else.

Where are you from? I think finding a dentist in the US who uses nitrous should be quite easy. Many who offer iv or conscious (pill) sedation also have nitrous. I think they are quick to push to the deeper level of sedation first off but I'm sure if you inquire specifically about nitrous they will tell you if they offer it.

Have you checked out this page?

Tips for controlling gagging

There are some great tips for controlling gagging. I have a horrible problem with that too and while I can get through a few of the x-rays, some of them cause me to gag within seconds of putting the film in my mouth. I tried taking a little bit of salt and put some on my tongue when I had to have an impression done and between doing that and putting my head down I was able to get through it. Some other members have commented on the throat spray as helping them.

I haven't had nitrous in a long time but my experience with it was positive. It calmed me enough to have work done and I don't recall any gagging issues when I was using it.

I hope you find someone who can offer you what you need at a cost that isn't too steep. Best of luck! :thumbsup:
 
Thank you very much for the link. I live in Las Vegas. What a pain
to have to keep shopping around, but oh well it has to be done.

I don't think I want to try any tricks, after the experiences I've
already had with these newfangled digital devices, I just want
to go for the drugs.

Thanks, it's good to at least know it should not be too uncommon
to find dentists that can imagine using N2O.
 
The endodontist whom I saw yesterday doesn't offer N2O. He said he'd write me a prescription for valium if we scheduled any procedures. Fortunately I don't need any work done right now (yeah!). I'm not sure if valium would be enough for me to face a root canal or if I'd need N2O. For me it's the anxiety before the dental procedure that is the worst part, and I think that anxiety would be much less if I knew I was going to have N2O. I'm going to ask my regular dentist when I next see him if he offers it, just for future reference. I too have wondered about how many dentists offer it. (I'm in Massachusetts in the U.S.)

-L.G.
 
I found the following information in a review article (Ann Agric Environ Med 2001, 8, 119–122: ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RISK OF CHRONIC EXPOSURE TO NITROUS OXIDE IN DENTAL PRACTICE):

"In 1983, the American Dental Association (ADA)
reported that 35% of dentists used N2O to control patients’
pain and anxiety [8]. In 1991, 58% of dentists used N2O
equipment [2]. The percentage of paediatric dentists using
N2O increased from 65% in 1980 to 88% in 1988 [7].
The estimated percentage of dentists using nitrous
oxide sedation in some countries amounts to 50% in USA
and Japan, 45–50% in Denmark, 30–40% in the UK, 30%
in Sweden and Australia, and 10% in Italy [24]."

I do wonder if these figures are correct though.
 
oh thank you, it's good to get a rough idea.

I read something yesterday about them having some kind
of special venting to reduce their exposure.
 
I found the following information in a review article (Ann Agric Environ Med 2001, 8, 119–122: ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RISK OF CHRONIC EXPOSURE TO NITROUS OXIDE IN DENTAL PRACTICE):

"In 1983, the American Dental Association (ADA)
reported that 35% of dentists used N2O to control patients’
pain and anxiety [8]. In 1991, 58% of dentists used N2O
equipment [2]. The percentage of paediatric dentists using
N2O increased from 65% in 1980 to 88% in 1988 [7].
The estimated percentage of dentists using nitrous
oxide sedation in some countries amounts to 50% in USA
and Japan, 45–50% in Denmark, 30–40% in the UK, 30%
in Sweden and Australia, and 10% in Italy [24]."

I do wonder if these figures are correct though.

Me too, seems high for UK, although go back 30 years and virtually every practice would have had a GA nitrous oxide machine so it's amazing it is so rare in UK as a form of conscious sedation (don't believe that UK figure either).....I also think maybe it's sth patients have to make special arrangements for in UK whereas in USA you get the impression it's more on tap - should you suddenly fancy a whiff mid-procedure!
 
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It's not really all that easy to find one. I did find a handful that
also have good reviews on the internet, but they are the expensive
ones.

I did find one dentist that was not too expensive, and would offer
valium, but they had lots of bad one-star reviews. great.

As for the dentist I went to yesterday, it turned out that they will
not give halcion after all, and their receptionist didn't know what
she was talking about. So that was another wasted trip, and wasted
time for me.

Of the ones that do offer N2O, I'm going to have to wait til I can afford
the one down the street, who was the least expensive of the ones
that do offer N2O. It might be another month before I can do it.

My feeling is I'd better not even try to do it with salt and nasal spray,
because I have a problem even with gagging on vitamins, and I have to
make sure to take them with something salty and probably greasy.
But it sure is a bummer because I'd really like to go to the $59 dentist with good reviews.

At least they still offer N2O, which I didn't know until I came in here.
 
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