English Deutsch Français Italiano Español Português 繁體中文 Bahasa Indonesia Tiếng Việt ภาษาไทย
All categories

2006-09-09 14:01:54 · 17 answers · asked by kvsmiller 3 in Health Dental

my girlfriend is having gas but was told that she'd still be aware of what was going on. I was wondering how the gas makes you feel during. Does it make you feel light-headed?

2006-09-09 14:07:54 · update #1

17 answers

I'm a dentist.

Laughing gas (i.e. nitrous oxide or N20) is actually a general anesthetic, albeit a weak one, with a MAC of over 100% (MAC meaning "minimum alveolar concentration", or the concentration of a gas that would be required to render 50% of the population unresponsive to a surgical stimulus--i.e. an incision with a scalpel). It is used in the OR, in conjunction with the more potent halogenated ethers.

The mechanism by which it works isn't well characterized, but we do know that it inhibits the certain receptors in the brain involved in "awake" functioning (i.e. NMDA receptors) and stimulates receptors involved in depressing nervous function in our brain (i.e. GABA receptors). There's probably more, but I really don't remember.

So, what does it do to you?

If given in the right amount, it has analgesic properties (i.e. controls pain), it does sedate you slightly, and it has very strong anxiolytic properties (eases your fears). Depending on your health history (i.e. smoking, previous drug use, prescription drug use, etc.), you may even fall asleep.

I perform wisdom teeth extractions using nitrous oxide on patients regularly, and the vast majority of them are quite comfortable. Occasionally, there are some patients whose apprehension is so much so that they need to be sedated further. In such cases, I refer them to an oral surgeon for intraveinous sedation.

2006-09-09 19:40:13 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3 0

I am a TOTAL chicken and I didn't think it was that bad... I had the gas and shots to numb the entire area around the teeth. The gas made me feel relaxed like I had drank a bottle of wine, and the numbing shots worked great. If she feels pain all she has to do is speak up and they will stop and give her another injection. The most important thing is that she follows the doctor's instructions to avoid dry socket. Dry socket is MUCH worse than having a tooth pulled. Sucking on ice chips REALLY helped with my swelling and pain. She will feel better in about 48 hours max.

2006-09-09 21:32:19 · answer #2 · answered by lnfinitelylnteresting 4 · 1 0

Yup i was awake and had two removed in the upper jaw. The gums were totally deadened with a local anaesthetic and then i had holes drilled into my teeth and needles inserted into the nerves to deaden the tooth. They pulled them out and i didnt feel a thing.

The only thing i did hate was the horrible smell from the gumline afterward. They become inflamed and red. Keep gauze over the top and your dentist will probably give u a mouthwash. I also suffered from dry socket....i just hope u dont go there :P Good luck lol

2006-09-09 21:05:07 · answer #3 · answered by gr33n_3y3d_grrl 5 · 0 0

I had 6 teeth out about 3 days ago (4 wisdom teeth) but i was knocked out, i suggest pay the extra to get knocked out, i would not want to be awake for that sort of thing.... There no pain after as they numb you up real good and the only discomfort i feel is just a bit of jaw tenderness!

2006-09-10 11:25:13 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

I had just local anesthetic and nitrous and I actually fell asleep when they extracted my wisdom teeth-no problem. I also just had local when I had to have four other teeth extracted before I got my braces on-no problems then either. Nowadays you can get IV sedation if you are really nervous or you can take a sedative before hand, it is up to you. Either way make sure you rest after so take a long weekend to do this. Good luck!

2006-09-09 21:09:36 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

Had them out and then got a second set and had them out. The second time 2 were impacted and the dentist was harsh. He put his knee on my chest and twisted until he gave up and cut it out. The first time was like nothing they just came on out no problem I did learn to take a wire coat hanger and shape it over my head and hang 2 ice bags one one each side like puppy ears. It helped lots no bruising or swelling.

2006-09-09 21:12:36 · answer #6 · answered by hrpuff i 2 · 0 0

Yes, I was awake. They numb you up with novacaine, and I had the laughing gas. It really wasn't that bad. The novacaine hurt a lot, but it was smooth sailing after that.

2006-09-09 21:07:22 · answer #7 · answered by qwerty456 5 · 0 0

Not good go for the gas they broke my wife's jaw also and she got dry socket her face was bruised and looked like a train wreck.

2006-09-09 21:03:47 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

I was awake for 3 of mine getting pulled... it wasnt bad. it was numb and i couldnt feel it. i wont say that it wasnt scary though becayse i was terrified but after i was like " oh thats it" You will be fine! I didnt even have swelling afterwards!

2006-09-09 21:26:54 · answer #9 · answered by coffeejitterzz 2 · 0 0

yep i was awake . It felt like they were trying to pull my head offf not my tooth out! But I would rather be concious throughout I feel I can be more helpful and get it over and done with sooner when im concious

2006-09-09 21:08:06 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0 1

fedest.com, questions and answers