Nitrous Oxide
Some of our patients find it helpful to use a mixture of nitrous oxide and pure oxygen during their dental appointment. This helps them to relax, and their time in the dental chair goes by more quickly. We use an evacuation system so the effects are not experienced by the dental team. Some people experience some nausea if they use nitrous oxide on an empty stomach, so we recommend that they have a small meal approximately one hour before their dental visit. Most patients return to their normal state of awareness after 10 minutes of 100% oxygen and are able to return to work and resume their usual activities. A few individuals are drowsy for the rest of the day. If a patient is easily affected by medications, we recommend that a friend or family member accompany them home.