Nitrous Oxide
Some people are terrified of going to the dentist.  They have extremely sensitive mouths and perceive almost any dental procedure to be painful.  Nitrous oxide is often needed for these patients to make dental treatments more comfortable, gentle, and pain-free.

Nitrous oxide is an odorless and colorless combination of two different gasesnitrogen and oxygen.  It is used for calming both children and adults.  It is sometimes called laughing gas because some people laugh when they breathe it.  Nitrous oxide is administered through a mask that is placed over your mouth and nose.  All you have to do is breathe normally for the gas to take effect.  Very soon, you will feel calm, relaxed, and disconnected from the world around you.  Interestingly, nitrous oxide does not actually make the mouth numb.  Instead, it induces state of being known as conscious sedation.  Everyone feels calm in this state of mind, and some people feel a bit giddy.  (This accounts for the origin of the nickname laughing gas.) 

Patients under conscious sedation can answer questions and carry on a conversation with the dentist, but they feel significantly decreased discomfort and have a greater tolerance for dental work that would otherwise be painful to them. 

Laughing gas may make you feel as though you are floating or drifting through space.  You will definitely experience an enhanced feeling of well-being.  Your hands and feet may tingle as well.  Many people report a fluid feeling of warmth coursing through their body.  However, nitrous oxide will not make you fall asleep, nor will it neutralize your natural reflexes.  Time distortion occurs for many people as well.  They report that procedures tend to go by faster when they are under the effects of laughing gas.

There may be a few minor complications with nitrous oxide.  None of them are any danger to patients in good health.  However, it is best to be aware that you may experience one of these side effects before you actually do. 

Sometimes people get the chills and begin to shiver when they breathe laughing gas.  The dentist can give you a warm blanket if this happens to you. 

Sometimes nausea occurs as a side effect of nitrous oxide.  Normally it is not that severe with most people.  However, if you experience nausea so severe you think you may throw up, notify the dentist at once.  He or she can give you pure oxygen to reverse the effect.

Some people sweat excessively as a result of laughing gas.  The dentist will either decrease the flow of the gas or discontinue its use if you begin to sweat profusely and uncontrollably. 

Some people cannot be given nitrous oxide, however.  These people include:

         Pregnant women

         People with inner ear or upper respiratory infections

         People with claustrophobia or sever anxiety about being out of control

         COPD patients

         Children with certain behavioral or personality disorders

Before administering laughing gas to any patient, we always do a complete medical history check to make certain you are a candidate for its use.  If it is determined to be safe for you, we recommend you eat only a little before coming in for your procedure, and that you by NO MEANS DRIVE YOURSELF HOME.