Nitrous oxide or laughing gas is a mild sedative that may be used to help your child relax during dental treatment. It is very safe and well tolerated. Depending on your child’s level of anxiety, dental treatment needs and medical history, nitrous oxide may be recommended to help complete your child’s dental treatment safely and successfully in the chair.
Nitrous oxide is a blend of two gases - oxygen and nitrous oxide. A fitted scented mask is placed over your child’s nose and your child breathes it in normally. Your child is fully conscious and is able to respond to questions or requests during dental treatment. At the end of treatment, it is breathed out after a short period of breathing oxygen and has no lingering effects. Nitrous oxide has a rapid onset, is reversible and is non-allergenic.
The benefits of nitrous oxide include helping alleviate your child’s dental anxiety, increasing the pain threshold, making the time pass by quickly, helping minimize a gag reflex and keeping the dental visits positive. Nitrous oxide may not be effective for everyone including children with severe anxiety, nasal congestion or discomfort wearing a nasal mask. In addition, there is an added cost to using nitrous oxide that will be provided on the estimate given to you prior to commencing treatment.
