Thursday, March 18, 2010

The Benefits of Nitrous Oxide and Why We Offer This Effective Anesthetic


Nitrous oxide gas, often referred to as laughing gas or sweet air, is an effective anesthetic drug that has many benefits for patients seeking dental treatment.

HISTORY

Nitrous oxide was first discovered by an English cleric named Joseph Priestley in 1774. Later, in 1800, Humphry Davy, an English chemist and physicist, picked up on his work. He subjected himself and animals to the gas, and made many observations -- most notably, that the gas produced a very pleasant sensation and reduced the sensitivity to pain.

It was not until 1844 that a young Connecticut dentist named Dr. Horace Wells saw a public demonstration of nitrous oxide at a carnival and realized the possibility of using it for dental treatment. The next day, Dr. Wells had nitrous oxide delivered to his office, and had a colleague extract his own infected tooth under the influence of the gas. The results were astonishing, and Dr. Wells continued to use nitrous oxide gas for patient treatment thereafter.

BENEFITS

Nitrous oxide is used in roughly one-third of dental practices in the United States. The benefits of nitrous oxide are many, and the risks are few. The gas is administered with a comfortable mask placed over the nose, and the patient is instructed to breathe in through the nose and out through their mouth. As a precaution, patients should not eat anything for about two hours prior to use of the gas. The patient begins to feel a pleasant level of sedation anywhere from 30 seconds to three or four minutes. The cheeks and gums will also begin to feel numb in about a third of the patients.

After the gas is adjusted to the appropriate dose and the patient is relaxed and sedated, the dentist can comfortably give the injection (if needed) to the patient, and then proceed with dental treatment. After the treatment is completed, the patient is given pure oxygen to breathe for about five minutes, and all the effects of sedation are usually reversed. Unlike IV sedation or general anesthesia, the patient can almost always leave the office by themselves, without an escort.

SIDE EFFECTS

Nitrous oxide has few side effects. High doses can cause nausea in some patients, and about 10 percent of patients do not benefit from it. Patients that are claustrophobic or have blocked nasal passages cannot use nitrous oxide effectively. Nitrous oxide is one of the safest anesthetics available. Interestingly, it is also routinely used by anesthesiologists for general anesthesia in combination with other more potent gases.

Dentists find nitrous oxide especially useful for fearful patients as well as young children. The effect of nitrous oxide is often remarkable.
  • A patient that was anxious just a minute or two before treatment will become relaxed and calm.
Because nitrous oxide is so effective, dentists rarely need to prescribe Valium for anxious patients before treatment.

If you are nervous before or during dental treatment, ask you dentist if he or she has nitrous oxide available -- it works wonders!

- Dr. Jerry Gordon, http://www.dentistry.com/

For more information or to schedule your dental appointment call: 702-367-4040

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Want to make an easy $500 CASH?


PATIENT REFERRAL CONTEST
- Word of Mouth -

We strive to provide you with the best dental care and customer service possible. If you are pleased with the care we provide you, we would be thrilled to see your family and friends. The best compliment our patients can give us is their vote of confidence by referring others to us.

HOW IT WORKS...

The contest runs from April 1st, 2010 through June 30th, 2010.

Every patient that sends at least ONE referral will automatically receive two free movie passes. The patient that sends the MOST referrals in that time period will win $500 CASH!

(A qualifying referral is anyone that completes a new patient exam within the contest time period. Contest winner will be announced on our website by July 15th, 2010. Movie passes will be mailed monthly.)

Helpful Tips:

- Family Counts! So schedule your spouse, children, siblings, parents, cousins, etc… This is an easy referral!

- Ask friends and family for help winning the contest (or at LEAST the movie tickets) by texting or posting on Facebook, Twitter, Blogs, etc.

- Call our office and request BUSINESS CARDS. We’ll mail them to you so you can hand them out at work, school, gymnastics, t-ball, karate, restaurants, etc.!

You’d be surprised at how easy it is to suggest a great dentist to family, friends, and associates!

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Happy Birthday Elizabeth and Kim!

Elizabeth and Kim... The Birthday Girls!

Dr. Gearin and Cheryl

Elizabeth with the CUPCAKES!

Elizabeth and Ashley

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Today we celebrated Elizabeth and Kim's birthdays, since they're both this week!  We all had lunch together, the girls got birthday balloons and CUPCAKES!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GIRLS!  We Love You!