What is Nitrous Oxide?

Nitrous Oxide, also known as laughing gas, is a pain relieving and sedating gas that is combined with oxygen to make patients more comfortable during dental care. If offers the benefit of relaxation with no loss of consciousness. A mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen is inhaled though the nose and mouth before a planned dental procedure. A light tingling feeling is often experienced by patients, as well as an altered sense of time. Patients often listen to relaxing music during nitrous oxide sedation. Some patients love the feeling and feel very comfortable, others require something more tranquilizing. In general, patients who have had traumatic dental or life experiences that leave a life long memory, will be more comfortable with something that will relax them more than nitrous oxide alone. Safe and effective, nitrous oxide sedation is the most common form of conscious sedation.