Totally get what you mean about the anxiety—mine used to spike just hearing the drill from the waiting room. I tried nitrous for a filling once after way too many tense appointments, and honestly, it was like someone just turned the panic dial way down. Still aware, but everything felt softer. I do wish insurance would cover it for more than just “big” procedures though. For me, it’s made a huge difference, especially with cosmetic stuff where you’re in the chair forever.
That’s such a win, finding something that actually dials down the panic. I totally relate to the drill noise—sometimes just the anticipation is enough to make me tense up. Have you noticed if nitrous affects you differently depending on the procedure or how long you’re in the chair? I’ve heard some folks feel a little groggy after, but for me it mostly just helps me stop gripping the armrests so hard. Insurance stuff is so frustrating though... why is anxiety only “valid” for surgery?
Nitrous is funny like that—it really depends on the day for me, or maybe what’s going on in my head before I even walk in. I’ve seen patients get super chatty and relaxed, others just zone out, and a few even get giggly. For longer procedures, I notice some folks need a little more to keep them comfy, but most bounce back pretty quick. Insurance rules make zero sense to me either... it’s like they forget sitting through a cleaning can be just as nerve-wracking as a filling. Have you ever tried anything besides nitrous, like oral meds or noise-cancelling headphones?