Nitrous Oxide

Oral sedation is a significant part of dentistry. A common misconception is that oral sedatives are only used to numb the teeth, gums, and jawbone, or to put the patient to deep sleep so that they do not have any sensation during the procedures. Not all oral sedatives induce deep sleep. One such example is nitrous oxide - a mild oral sedative used in most dental practices.

What is Nitrous oxide?

You may have heard the term laughing gas when people mock anyone who laughs a lot. But, laughing gas is actually an oral sedative which is otherwise known by its scientific name of nitrous oxide. It is one of the mildest sedatives used in dentistry. It is used to ease a patient’s nerves and induce a sense of calmness in them. Dentists usually use nitrous oxide on younger patients who tend to make a fuss while being seated in the dental chair.

Why nitrous oxide?

• Nitrous oxide is a mild sedative. It doesn’t have any known side effects and doesn’t require any medication for the patient to recover from the sedation. Meaning, it wears off within a few minutes on its own.
• The drug induces a sense of calmness and makes the most ordinary things seem funny. This makes it easier for the dentist to treat the patient.
• Since nitrous oxide is a gaseous sedative, there is no need to use a syringe to inject it. Hence, the entire process is painless.
• The patient will have to inhale the sedative through a comfortably fitting mask.

Please schedule an online appointment or call us at (281) 997-8996 to have a consultation with Dr. Bello, and we will be happy to help.