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Dear parents and adults alike,
Your child or even yourself are about to undergo a clinical examination or treatment that may be perceived as painful or anxiety-inducing or that exceeds the level of understanding or cooperation. Therefore, we are obliged to prevent the fear/anxiety of the dentist or to help overcome it, if it already exists. This fear does not justify general anesthesia, but your child may benefit from conscious inhalation by one of the two methods we use:
- The French method: MEOPA = Melange Equimolare d’Oxygene et de Protoxyde d’Azote (A fixed equimolar mixture of oxygen and nitrous oxide – hilarious gas, 50:50)
- The American method: MATRX = adjustable mixture of oxygen and nitrous oxide
What are the effects of inhalation with a fixed or adjustable mixture of hilarious gas?
- Inhalation causes a decrease in anxiety and eventually induces a state of euphoria (hilarity) that can be exacerbated by the conversation of the entourage or a happy story.
- Inhalation causes a decrease in alertness – which makes it easier to accept local anesthesia.
- Inhalation causes partial analgesia of the skin / mucous membranes (surface anesthesia) which allows local anesthesia through infiltration.
- Inhalation can change the perception of the senses or the environment: tinnitus, double vision, tingling in the lips and limbs, the sensation of warmth, lightness, pseudo-dreams, loss of track of time.
- The child/adult remains conscious and “present” and they are able to talk with the entourage.
Are there any side effects of inhalation?
No, millions of children have inhaled this mixture without any side effects. This technique has been used successfully for about 100 years in the USA and since 1993 in France and Europe. Undesirable effects are rare and always disappear a few minutes after stopping the gas. In these situations, the following can be observed :
- A state of agitation that may paradoxically occur, similarly to all sedatives or because of insufficient action against pain.
- Sensations of malaise (dysphoria) due to slightly bizarre sensations.
- Rarely headaches, nausea, or vomiting.
How does a MEOPA / Matrix inhalation treatment session develop?
- Sitting the child in the dental office chair /relaxing him.
- Familiarizing the child /adult with the inhalation equipment (mask with different flavors, etc.).
- Inhalation of the gas mixture
- The dental treatment
- Stopping the inhalation of the gaseous mixture
- Quick return at home at the end of the session.
Contraindications
- Respiratory diseases, stuffy nose.
- Middle ear infections.
- Antidepressant treatment.
Pre-op advice
Hilarious gas can cause nausea/vomiting in some cases, thus:
- On the day of treatment please avoid eating solid foods approximately 4 hours before it and liquid food 2 hours before your appointment at the doctor.
- Also avoid eating foods containing cocoa, caffeine.
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