Nitrous oxide is so widely used in dentistry because it can effectively keep a patient comfortable during a procedure with minimal side effects. While general anesthesia or intravenous sedation will put you to sleep or make you lose consciousness, nitrous oxide will simply ease your anxiety, raise your pain threshold, and decrease your gag reflex. This allows a patient to remain conscious, cooperate with the dentist, and then drive home when the procedure is over. Here’s what you can expect while under nitrous oxide sedation.
How Is Nitrous Oxide Administered?
Nitrous oxide is among the safest types of sedation. It is often used for fillings or as a form of dental sedation. Also called laughing gas, it is administered with oxygen through a hose attached to a nose mask. You can expect to feel the effects within a few minutes after you begin receiving it. Patients with medical conditions like asthma or high blood pressure that can make other forms of sedation dangerous can be safely treated with nitrous oxide. The body eliminates it in as few as five minutes after it ceases to be administered, making it perfectly safe to drive afterward.
How Does Nitrous Oxide Make You Feel?
Nitrous oxide slows a patient’s reaction time, thereby dulling sensations and awareness of what is happening during a procedure. While different people have different reactions to it, it can make a patient relax by reducing anxiety levels and raising the pain threshold. It can also make it easier for the dentist to go about their work by decreasing the gag reflex. The patient will remain awake and aware enough to communicate with the dentist and usually enjoys a warm, euphoric feeling.
Does Nitrous Oxide Have Any Side Effects?
While nitrous oxide is considered to be among the safest forms of sedation, different patients respond differently to it. While most patients do not report any negative reactions, others might experience some unpleasant side effects. A few of these are:
- Numbness or discomfort in the legs
- Nausea or vomiting
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Sweating
- Shivering
- Confusion
- Hallucinations or sound distortion
Normally, these effects will dissipate within a few minutes. You might want to have a conversation with your dental provider about alternative sedation options if you experience any of these uncomfortable side effects. If you develop fever, hives, chills, or difficulty breathing after receiving nitrous oxide, it might be the result of a rare allergic reaction. In this case, seek immediate medical attention.
It is important to keep in mind that while these side effects are possible, they are also quite uncommon. As with any form of dental sedation, patients receiving nitrous oxide are carefully monitored by their dental team. Nitrous oxide can safely provide a pleasant dental experience for most patients, and that’s why it has been used for more than a century.
About the Practice
Berkshire Dental Group is dedicated to maintaining the oral health of patients in Broken Arrow, OK. Led by Drs. T.J. Sprague and J.P. Beller, the skilled staff provides the best possible dental care in a warm and friendly environment. Areas of expertise include general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry. For more information on the safety of nitrous oxide, contact the office online or dial (918) 250-9528.