Is Sedation with Laughing Gas a Good Idea?

Around 20 to 30 percent of young adults face Trypanophobia, the fear of injections. Such patients tend to avoid medical treatment due to their anxiety about needles. The dental industry is continuously innovating to bring a solution to such issues.

Dentists have started using laughing gas as a solution for patients who fear needles. This allows the patient to sit still during the dental procedure. Experts at Waterfront Family Dentistry suggest that laughing gas is a solution for patients to overcome their anxiety and maintain regular dental visits.

Here are a few facts about the use of laughing gas for sedation:

What Is Laughing Gas?

Laughing gas, despite its name, does not make you laugh. It is also referred to by its chemical name, nitrous oxide (N2O). It is an effective sedative that your local dentist in Frisco may use to make you comfortable during your dental visit.

The gas does not make you unconscious, the gas works by slowing down your nervous system, thus making you feel light-headed. Patients feel anxiety going away just minutes after inhaling the gas. While the gas will help you relax, you will still be able to understand and respond to your dentist's questions.

How Does Laughing Gas Work?

Using laughing gas is a safe process for sedation that is used across dental clinics in Texas. Your local dentist will let you normally breathe the gas along with oxygen through a small mask over your nose and the gas with oxygen through a small mask on your nose.

The gas will quickly make you feel easy. Some patients also feel heaviness on their arms and legs. The effects will fade away as soon as you take off the mask or inhale pure oxygen.

The American Academy for Pediatric Dentistry recommends using laughing gas for patients who are fearful of dental procedures or have health complications. The gas is also effective for patients on whom local anesthesia does not wear or wears off quickly and for kids requiring longer treatment.

Side Effects of Laughing Gas

Laughing gas does not have extreme side effects if the gas is administered with special care under properly maintained conditions. Depending on their sensitivity levels, some people may experience headaches, chills, nausea, or sweating.

These symptoms wear off after inhaling oxygen for about 5 to 10 minutes. Patients are advised to avoid eating heavy food before they visit the dentist to avoid the feeling of nausea. Educate your dentist about all your health conditions before the treatment so they may be able to evaluate if laughing gas is the right sedative procedure for you.

Laughing gas is useful to keep patients, who have anxiety issues, still during dental treatment. The gas is safe to be administered to both kids and adults. If you think that you can benefit from the use of laughing gas during your next dental procedure, talk to your local dentist about your eligibility.

Waterfront Family Dentistry has dental clinics across Frisco, Little Elm, Plano, and The Colony. Our dentists have extensive experience in providing services in emergency dentistry, preventive dentistry, and orthodontics. Our experts in anesthetic dental procedures can evaluate the best sedative option for you, depending on your medical history.