Nitrous OxideNitrous Oxide, or laughing gas, is sometimes used to relax an anxious patient and to take the edge out of the pain of an injection. Children are usually sedated this way as it is a safe and rapid means of reducing anxiety and pain levels with no side effects.Your dentist will make you put on a mask through which a mix of oxygen and nitrous oxide is pumped through, you will then be asked to breath normally. You will then start to feel warm and many patients report a feeling of calm and of "tingling" sensations from their fingers and toes. Some patients liken nitrous oxide sedation as to drunkeness - although you don't suffer from a hangover afterwards! At the height of the effects of nitrous sedation, your dentist will give you your injections, making the rest of the procedure painless. You will be asked to breathe pure oxygen for a few minutes after nitrous is stopped to "flush" your lungs. Most patients will be able to drive home about half an hour after the procedure. Nitrous oxide sedation is safe and free of ill-effects and is popular with dentists dealing with children and anxious patients. |