Most children feel comfortable when visiting the dentist. Early exposure to the dentist helps younger patients to associate the dental office with feeling of relaxation. Some children however, may feel nervous before their visit or while sitting in the dental chair. Sometimes they need more than gentle care to feel relaxed. Nitrous gas is a safe sedative used to help your child relax during the dental visit while allowing the doctor to effectively treat your child.

Nitrous gas is a blend of oxygen and nitrous oxide. Before the procedure a fitted mask is placed over your child’s nose and as they breathe, the blend is absorbed through the lungs. At the end of the treatment, the nitrous gas is removed and has no lingering effects. One of the side effects during treatment is a sense of contentment and relaxation one of the reasons why nitrous gas is also known as “laughing gas.”

The use of nitrous gas is very safe as it is rapidly absorbed, is reversible, and can be adjusted in concentration. Your child is fully conscious and keeps all of their natural reflexes while absorbing the nitrous gas. If you are interested in learning more about the use of nitrous gas during your child’s visits, or in other alternatives, please contact our dentists to answer any of your questions or schedule an appointment to find out if nitrous gas is a suitable option for your child.