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Nitrous Oxide (laughing gas)

"Nitrous Oxide is a sweet smelling, non-irritating colorless gas which you breathe through your nose."

Nitrous Oxide is a sweet smelling, non-irritating colorless gas which you breathe through your nose.  It has been the primary means of sedation in dentistry for many years.  Nitrous oxide is safe, the patient receives 50-70% nitrous oxide, with no less than 30% oxygen at all times.  The patient is able to breathe easily, through a nose mask, and has complete control of how they are feeling.  Nitrous oxide does NOT put a person “to sleep”, although many patients do drift off to sleep, and/or experience a mild “amnesia”, not remembering all of what happened during the procedure.

There are many advantages to using Nitrous Oxide:

  • The depth of sedation can be changed at any time, by increasing or decreasing the amount of nitrous oxide that is being introduced to the patient.
  • There is no “after effect”, or “hangover” type feeling afterwards.
  • Nitrous Oxide sedation, or inhalation sedation, is safe with no side effects on your heart, or lungs.
  • Inhalation sedation is very effective in minimizing gagging.
  • Nitrous Oxide works very rapidly, it reaches the brain within 20 seconds.  In as few as 2-3 minutes a feeling of relaxation is felt.
  • Many small fillings can be done without anesthetic, especially on children, as the inhalation sedation can give a slight amount of “anesthesia”.

Though there are no major contraindications to using nitrous oxide, you may not want to use it if you have emphysema, multiple sclerosis, a cold or other difficulties breathing.

Ask the dentist for a “5 minute trial”, if you are interested in using nitrous oxide, and then you can see how you feel with this type of sedation before proceeding.