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Nitrous Oxide | Sedation For Dental Treatment
December 24, 2021  |  Nitrous oxide

Nitrous Oxide | Sedation For Dental Treatment

Laughing gas or dental nitrous oxide works when you inhale it before your dental treatment begins. Once blended with oxygen, it releases a sensation within your body that makes you feel calm and relaxed.  Your dentist will regulate laughing gas with a small nose piece which takes about 5 minutes to bring in the effect. Once you get sedated, you will become exhausted or enter a dream-like state, and nothing will upset you.  Laughing gas is a local sedation technique that allows the dentist to work while you are unresponsive. If you are worried about treatments, happy gas guarantees you experience no pain or disturbance during your procedure and is mainly for children. Below we have covered every minute detail on nitrous oxide- if you want to know more about laughing gas, keep on reading.

What Is Dental Nitrous Oxide?

Dental nitrous oxide (N2O) is a gas used by dentists to sedate patients. Laughing gas is a sedation method & it is:
  • Colorless
  • Odorless
  • Inhaled via a small nose piece 
Furthermore, you will probably experience happy gas when you or your kid undergo a minor dental treatment. During your treatment, you may sense some positive effects from the laughing gas that will help you to:
  • Relieve anxiety
  • Comfort
  • Feel relaxed
  • Become sleepy
As a result, your dentist will be capable of providing you with the best dental care while you are still and relaxed.

Why Do Dentists Use Laughing Gas?

Laughing gas is a secure and pain-free sedation technique that allows your dentist to work more effortlessly when working with children. If you or your kid suffer anxiety or have had a bad dental experience, you might not feel at ease experiencing another treatment.  For this, the laughing gas allows you to become clueless about what your dentist is doing during your dental treatment. Once you inhale nitrous oxide and become fatigued, your dentist will be capable of providing you with a quality service and improving your oral health. You will presumably experience laughing gas when you undergo dental practices like:

Laughing Gas Effects

After the procedure, it might take you hours for you to get back on your feet after inhaling laughing gas. Hence, we suggest that you have light meals and avoid eating or drinking too heavily for the first few hours after your sedation. It will help you reduce the risk of problems within your stomach. Furthermore, children recover faster from laughing gas and wake up more comfortably than grown-ups. From a dentist’s viewpoint, if you have a child under this level of sedation, you should stay with them throughout their dental treatment. Knowing that they have a familiar face in front of them when they wake up will ensure that they are secure in the process.

Side Effects Of Laughing Gas

In the short term, you might experience some side effects from laughing gas, and these include:
  • Blurry vision
  • Nausea
  • Headaches
  • Feeling high
  • Fatigue
During your procedure, your dentist will pull the nose piece and may supply you with oxygen to flush out the extra nitrous oxide within your body. As a spin-off, the oxygen will help you recover your senses and reduce the side effects of laughing gas.

Dental Nitrous Oxide Northampton

So, if you need expert advice or want your oral health examined- contact us today or visit our dental care office located in Northampton. We will be delighted to help you with our dental services.