Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas)

As an extra comfort to patients, The Dental Group offers nitrous oxide to patients who feel anxious before or during dental treatment. Nitrous oxide/oxygen is a safe, effective sedative agent used to calm a person's fear of the dental visit.

Nitrous oxide/oxygen (N2O-O2) is a blend of two gases - oxygen and nitrous oxide. A fitted mask is placed over the nose and, as the patient breathes normally, uptake occurs through the lungs. At the end of treatment, it is eliminated after a short period of breathing oxygen, and has no lingering effects, no escort is needed.

Patients will smell a faint, sweet aroma and experience a sense of well-being and relaxation. Since it may produce a feeling of giddiness or euphoria, it is often called "laughing gas." Nitrous oxide/oxygen is perhaps the safest sedative in dentistry. It is well tolerated. It has a rapid onset, is reversible, can be adjusted in various concentrations, and is non-allergenic. Patients remain fully conscious when breathing nitrous oxide/oxygen. Nitrous oxide/oxygen may also be used in combination with other sedative agents.