Nitrous oxide sedation in dentistry

Nitrous oxide is very commonly used as a sedative in dentistry. Commonly known as laughing gas or happy gas and it’s a very effective sedation technique. It’s a pain reliever and it leaves you feeling light and happy. It leaves the person in a very happy state and light-headed and also causes the person to giggle. That is how it was dubbed the laughing gas. Using nitrous oxide sedation in dentistry in its pure state for an extended period of time can be harmful and in some cases, lead to a fatality. Continue reading to learn more about laughing gas.

Nitrous oxide is now used in dentistry as a mix along with Oxygen in a 30:70 proportion. At times, a 50:50 proportion might be used. This gas is used for people who experience low-level anxiety while visiting a dentist for treatment. These people aren’t petrified but still need calming and the gas helps them since it has mild sedative properties. By inhaling a mix of nitrous oxide & oxygen the patients moves into a calmer state.

Another notable fact is that the technique for administering nitrous oxide makes it a perfect dental sedation method for individuals who fear needles. No injections are administered and no IV’s are needed for effective sedation in this manner. Patients who are administered this gas in sedation dentistry continue being aware of the surroundings at all times right through the procedure. The mild sedative helps in relaxing their nerves and in calming their anxieties that might be related to their visits to the dentist in Coorparoo, QLD at Complete Dental clinic. The advantages to using it are:

-It works rapidly and begins working within the brain and calms the mind in less than 3 minutes of it being administered.

-It’s possible to adjust the depth of the sedation at any point of time during the procedure

-Complex or lengthy dental procedures can also benefit greatly from the ability to increase/ decrease the sedation level. This makes dental sedation a very safe procedure

-Since the dentist and the administrator have absolute control over the action the and level of nitrous oxide at all times, over-administration or overdosing is almost impossible

In addition to all these things, nitrous oxide is safe for people suffering from conditions such as epilepsy, heart disease, liver disease, diabetes, or even cerebrovascular disease which makes it a preferred medium of sedation in dentistry.