4 Essential Things You Should Know About Nitrous Oxide

If it’s about time for one of your biannual dental visits, you might already be feeling a little nervous or anxious. But you have nothing to fear; this is a regular part of maintaining a happy and healthy mouth—and sedation dentistry can offer many solutions that are certain to make your experience at the dentist’s office much more comfortable and pleasant. One of these options is nitrous oxide; also called “laughing gas.” Here are four essential things that you should know about this treatment option and how it helps patients receive the dental care they need.

1. It Won’t Put You to Sleep

Nitrous oxide is administered to patients through a mask in an oxygen mixture, and despite its common nickname, it will not make you laugh uncontrollably—though you’ll feel calm and euphoric, coupled with a light tingling sensation and some forgetfulness. It also will not put you to sleep like general anesthesia, and you will remain awake and responsive to verbal commands throughout the visit.

2. The Effects Kick in and Wear Off Quickly

Even though there are other, more powerful sedation options out there, one major perk of opting for nitrous oxide is the brevity of the effects. Within minutes of being administered the gas, patients begin to feel its effects—and they diminish shortly after the mask is removed. This means that patients who receive nitrous oxide sedation are even able to drive themselves home after their appointment!

3. It Has Many Benefits Other Than Addressing Dental-Anxiety

Even though most people turn towards sedation dentistry for combating dental-related anxiety, nitrous oxide has many other practical applications. It’s ideal for patients who struggle to remain seated for long periods of time or patients with mouth mobility issues. It also helps your dentist perform longer, complex, or multiple procedures in a single visit. Ultimately, it makes things smoother for both the patient and the dentist!

4. It’s Gentle and Safe

Nitrous oxide is gentle and can safely be used on children and adults—in fact, it’s been used for over 200 years in the medical world! Although it will depend on your individual health and circumstances, the gas is very safe for the brain, heart, liver, lungs, and kidneys. The only real dangers from using nitrous oxide are the disorienting effects, meaning that you might trip or fall if you stand up too quickly. But since the effects also diminish quickly and there are no “hangover” effects, you don’t have much to worry about at all!

In the end, nitrous oxide is just one of the many ways your dentist can make taking care of your mouth much easier on you. If you’re curious about nitrous oxide sedation, don’t hesitate to speak with your dentist to see if it’s a viable option for you.

About the Author

Dr. Travis A. Markle has proudly served patients and families in the Tyler, TX area for several years. Dr. Markle received his dental doctorate from the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio and is a member of several professional organizations including the American Dental Association and the Texas Dental Association. He is also a Fellow of the prestigious Academy of General Dentistry. If you have any questions about sedation dentistry or would like to schedule a visit, you can contact Dr. Markle through his practice’s website or over the phone: (903) 597-7902.