Nitrous Dental in Linden New Jersey

It is normal for patients to feel nervous before their dental appointments. We often see this among young children, though many adults experience high levels of anxiety.

When we encounter these types of situations, our dentists usually recommend nitrous oxide for mild sedation. Nitrous oxide sedation is also readily available to any of our patients who have long dental procedures ahead of them or a low pain threshold.

What Is Nitrous Oxide?

Nitrous oxide is one of the most common and effective sedatives used for dental procedures. It is a naturally occurring colorless and sweet-tasting gas. It is also often referred to as “laughing gas” or “happy gas” due to its mild intoxicating effects.

The gas is used together with pure oxygen to induce feelings of relaxation and euphoria. It helps patients feel calmer and more at ease. It also helps dull the feelings of pain from the procedure. Unlike general anesthesia though, nitrous oxide does not render patients unconscious.

Aside from feeling extremely relaxed and slightly sleepy, patients remain awake throughout their treatment. Many patients reported feeling light and floaty as if they are sinking into their chair and a slight tingling in their hands and feet.

Benefits of Nitrous Oxide Sedation

Nitrous oxide has been used as a mild sedative for more than 150 years. It has many recorded benefits, including the following:

• Works rapidly
• Quick to wear off
• No lingering major side effects
• Does not affect the brain, heart, lungs, or kidneys
• Mild enough for children and people with disabilities
• Increases comfort
• Easy to administer
• No need for needles
• Highly customizable depth of sedation

Since nitrous oxide is only a mild sedative, patients will not have to worry about any short-term memory loss or major adverse effects.

How Nitrous Oxide Is Administered

We administer nitrous oxide through a fitted mask that rests over the patient’s nose. Our dental team ensures that each patient undergoing sedation dental procedures is comfortable with the mask and level of sedation.

We can easily customize the level of sedation according to each of our patients’ preferences and the procedures’ needs. The gas is one of the fastest-acting sedatives used in sedation dentistry. It takes effect almost as soon as the gas enters the bloodstream and goes away almost as fast.

The lack of need for needles makes nitrous oxide preferable for patients with high levels of anxiety and fear of needles or blood.

Effect Onset and Recovery

Nitrous oxide can take effect anywhere between 30 seconds and a few minutes. Ensuring the gas mask is fastened securely in place helps hasten the onset of the effects.

Patients will feel the effects of nitrous oxide as long as they breathe in the gas. Once the mask is removed and they stop inhaling the gas, they will start to feel normal almost immediately. The nitrous oxide in their system gets flushed out within 5-10 minutes, though it is faster when patients receive 100% pure oxygen afterward.

Pure oxygen therapy not only helps eliminate any lingering traces of nitrous oxide in the lungs and body but also acts as a countermeasure to prevent headaches, an occasional side effect of nitrous oxide sedation.

Nitrous Oxide Sedation Dentistry in Linden, NJ

Magic Smile Dental offers safe and comfortable nitrous oxide sedation dental procedures for adults and children.

To learn more about nitrous oxide and other sedation dentistry options we offer, you may call us at (908) 486-5000 or schedule a consultation with one of our expert dentists.

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