There’s no reason to fear going to the dentist! Nitrous oxide sedation dentistry provides safe, comfortable dental treatment for patients with high anxiety, children, or patients with special needs.
Nitrous oxide (N2O) is simply a gas that you can breathe in. It has no color or smell, and it doesn’t irritate. The equipment used for delivering “happy gas” is quite simple. It consists of a supply of compressed gases and an apparatus that delivers the gases to the client. By turning some knobs and flipping on/off switches, the administrator can produce the desired mix of N2O-O2 in the chosen quantities. Flowmeters and pressure gauges allow the administrator to keep an eye on the flow of gases.
Patients are awake through the procedure and able to understand and respond and there is no “hangover” effect – the gas is eliminated from the body within three to five minutes after the gas supply is stopped. You can safely drive without an escort.
You can benefit from sedation dentistry if you experience one or more of the following:
- High fear of dental care
- Complex dental problems
- Traumatic dental experiences
- Fear of needles and shots
- Sensitive teeth
