For especially anxious patients and children, we offer a special solution that reduces tension and helps make all dental procedures more comfortable. We provide laughing gas, which helps you feel less scared and nervous during the treatment. Frightened children cooperate better.
Inhalation sedation with nitrous oxide sounds like a serious procedure, but it simply means using laughing gas (an anesthetic). The main purpose of using laughing gas is to improve the patient’s mood, relax them, and reduce feelings of fear.
Laughing gas not only helps calm very anxious patients but also makes the dentist’s work easier, as the goal is to have the patient cooperate fully in the most friendly atmosphere possible.
Why do we use inhalation sedation in dentistry?
Nitrous oxide sedation is not just a way for the dentist to make the patient’s time more pleasant, but also a method that allows the dentist to better control what happens during the procedure. It helps manage the behavior of patients—especially stressed adults as well as children.
Under the influence of the gas, the sensation of pain is reduced (though not completely eliminated), and the patient becomes less sensitive to smells, sounds, and touch. Sometimes, the patient may even forget the entire procedure.
Inhalation Sedation for Children
The case of a child is quite special because they make decisions (yes, really!), express feelings, and react differently than adults. An adult, even if the procedure was very unpleasant, can prioritize other reasons over their feelings. For a child, however, their feelings often take primary importance—not only for themselves but also for their parents.
A child is more willing to undergo dental treatments when they can make a friendly choice between a strawberry- or bubble-gum-scented mask and even laugh while sitting in the dental chair! Sedation becomes a fun experience and a good introduction to a successful dental visit. It works effectively with children regardless of their previous experiences with medical professionals.
Nitrous Oxide at the Dentist
The term “laughing gas” is somewhat of a simplification, which is why it’s better to refer to this procedure as inhalation sedation with nitrous oxide (mixed with oxygen), a name that accurately describes the substance. A person under its influence may indeed feel happier, but the main effect of nitrous oxide is sedative and mildly intoxicating. The patient may, colloquially speaking, “relax,” “drift away,” lose awareness (but not consciousness!), and not fully realize what is happening to them. This state is pleasant for both children and adults but does not cause loss of control over bodily reflexes.
The term “inhalation sedation” refers to the method of administration. Nitrous oxide sedation takes effect within about 30 seconds; the gas is completely eliminated from the body through breathing. In healthy patients, there are no adverse health effects. It does not cause respiratory or circulatory problems. In medicine, sedation types are classified as light or deep and include oral, pharmacological, and inhalation methods. Nitrous oxide sedation is a type of light sedation. The effects last for a maximum of about 30 minutes.
When is sedation recommended?
It is advised to use this type of sedation for children with ADHD, hyperactivity, or those who may react with vomiting in stressful situations. For adults, it is recommended for those facing stressful, frightening, or anxiety-inducing dental procedures—especially those who tend to postpone difficult dental visits “for later.” Laughing gas is commonly used by dentists working with children and oral surgeons. Whenever a patient requests the use of nitrous oxide and there are no contraindications, it can be successfully applied.
Inhalation sedation also has other positive effects beyond facilitating the dentist’s work during a procedure. It reduces the feeling of stress and can have a therapeutic effect. Using the gas at every visit can change a patient’s overall attitude toward dental treatment.
Contraindications for inhalation sedation:
Runny nose (common cold)
Sinus infections
Middle ear infections
Multiple sclerosis
Pulmonary emphysema
Pregnant women should also avoid the procedure, especially during the first months of pregnancy.
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