Laughing Gas/Nitrous oxide Sedation
Nitrous oxide is a gas that is commonly known as laughing gas or happy gas and can be used to help reduce anxiety for patients and children who have a dental phobia.
Nitrous oxide is administered to the patient via a nasal mask in combination with oxygen making you feel drowsy and relaxed. This allows the dentist to perform the necessary procedure while still allowing the patient to communicate with the dentist. Once the nitrous is switched off and you receive 100% oxygen you will return to feeling normal.
Before we can administer nitrous oxide, we will need to do a thorough medical history check and may even need to contact your health care provider as there are some contra-indications.
Advantages
– Nitrous can work within 20 seconds or can take up to 2-3 minutes making you feel relaxed and drowsy.
– The depth of sedation can be altered continuously by increasing or decreasing the level of the nitrous compared to other oral sedation techniques that cannot do this.
– The effect of the nitrous can be reversed immediately by administrating oxygen for 3-5 minutes allowing the patient to leave the surgery without any lasting effects and return to normal function.
Disadvantages
– Some people do not like the effects of the nitrous oxide and can become irritated.
– People who cannot breathe through their nose will not be able to have the nitrous sedation.
– The equipment is expensive and there will be a cost involved with the treatment, but item numbers and cost will be provided as part of your quote given prior to treatment.
Contraindications
– There are very few, but some include people with Multiple Sclerosis or any chronic obstructive lung disease.
– It is not indicated during the first trimester of pregnancy, but we recommend to avoid nitrous sedation during pregnancy entirely.
– Then off course if anyone is battling to breathe through their nose due to a cold or any other obstruction.
Another option is to have your health care provider prescribe you an oral sedation medication which will also make you feel relaxed and drowsy. The major problem faced here is that they have more of a lasting effect which can continue for a period after the procedure requiring someone to accompany you and look after you until the medication has stopped working.