Nitrous Oxide

Nitrous oxide and oxygen are administered for dental treatment requiring local anesthetic and use of a dental handpiece. The benefit of “laughing gas” is to prevent children from seeing or feeling the local anesthetic and to reduce the vibration felt from the handpiece. It also allows us to complete some treatment without using local anesthetic.

How we use it in our office

The child lies down and is wide awake in the chair. They may laugh, feel like they are floating, or have a tingling feeling in their fingers or toes. Nitrous oxide is completely reversible. At the end of the appointment your child will breathe 100% oxygen, which can also have a calming or relaxing effect. There are very few contraindications for using nitrous oxide. Please ask your pediatric dentist if you have concerns.