Despite the steps that dental practitioners take to ensure their comfort, patient fear and anxiety are often part of the treatment experience. Unfortunately, these emotions—and the physiological responses associated with them—can be serious barriers to quality care. While there are behavior management approaches to combat these stressors, oftentimes the best remedy is conscious sedation via nitrous oxide (NO). An anxiolytic, NO reduces patient anxiety, discomfort and pain. This, in turn, promotes patient comfort, cooperation and, ultimately, a successful treatment outcome.
To increase the efficacy of NO, intraoral isolation methods are often employed in tandem with the sedative. Isolation in dentistry is used to establish a dry, aseptic dental field and is greatly beneficial to restorative success and longevity. Additionally, when used in conjunction with NO, it increases inhaled concentrations of the anxiolytic maximizing anxiety alleviation.
While the rubber dam is the historical go-to for intraoral isolation, the newer Isolite® system by Zyris™ has proven a highly effective alternative. The core component of the system is the Isolite mouthpiece, a bite block combined with cheek and tongue retractor that offers dual-channel suction. Constructed from a flexible, latex-free polymer, the mouthpiece is as soft as gingival tissue. Isolite’s unique design and corresponding benefits have reportedly led to higher levels of patient comfort and satisfaction and reduced chair times when compared to rubber dam isolation.
NO's effectiveness as an anxiolytic is measured by various metrics including blood pressure, pulse rate (PR), hemoglobin concentrations and galvanic skin response. In a study comparing the efficacy of rubber dam and Isolite isolation, PR levels were measured intraoperatively to determine which technique optimized the anxiolytic effect of NO. The results revealed that Isolite was marginally more effective at reducing PR and thus inhaled NO concentrations.
The data from this study, alongside the aforementioned reports of increased patient satisfaction and decreased operation times, suggest that Isolite is more than a viable alternative to rubber dam isolation—it’s a powerful means of conquering patient fear and anxiety and paving the way for treatment success.
To learn more about Isolite systems and purchase product solutions for your practice, visit Zyris' website.