Nitrous oxide

Conscious Sedation

Sedation using nitrous oxide replaces the stress of enduring dental work with feelings of relaxation in a completely safe manner.

Nitrous oxide will put a smile on your lips—even when you are in a dentist’s chair! This safe and effective method calms people and has helped millions deal with their anxiety about having work done on their teeth.

With nitrous oxide, your feelings of discomfort, that anxious tightening in your chest, is replaced with a feeling of relaxed well-being. Some patients describe the experience of conscious sedation as being like floating in pleasant dream. For fearful children and anxious adults, nitrous oxide may be the key to having necessary dental work in comfort.

What is nitrous oxide?

Sometimes referred to as “laughing gas,” nitrous oxide is used with pure oxygen to reduce stress and anxiety. It has a calming and soothing effect on the brain.

Is nitrous oxide safe?

TOTALLY. It is considered the safest type of sedation for controlling anxiety during dental and medical treatment. It is an effective but not-too-powerful anaesthetic that is completely eliminated from the body by the time the dental work is complete. The beneficial effects of nitrous oxide are highly recommended for reducing the stress of patients who have conditions such as angina and hypertension or who have suffered a heart attack in the past. Unlike general anaesthesia, sedation using nitrous oxide allows the patient to remain conscious.

Is it safe for children?

ABSOLUTELY. Your dentist will do everything he or she can to reassure your child into accepting dental treatment. But some children, even so, need sedation to go through the experience. Nitrous oxide is the safest sedation technique available and is advised for treating such children. With conscious sedation, children actually end up with a positive memory of their dental visit!

What are the advantages of nitrous oxide?

After only a few minutes, your anxiety will be replaced with a feeling of relaxed well-being.

The effect of the sedation can be adjusted rapidly in order to produce the best state of relaxation for you.