Emergency
(215) 443-7400
Nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas, is the most basic and widely used sedation method in dentistry – particularly great because it’s safe for patients of all ages and wears off quickly. If you feel a bit nervous about a procedure (like a filling, extraction, or even a cleaning), nitrous oxide can help you stay calm and comfortable.
How nitrous works: You’ll wear a small mask over your nose and breathe normally. We’ll start the flow of nitrous oxide mixed with oxygen. Within a few minutes, you’ll start to feel its effects: often a sense of warmth, light-headedness, or tingling in arms and legs. Many patients say they feel floaty, relaxed, and indifferent to the sounds and sensations of dental work. Some get a case of the giggles (hence “laughing gas”), but not always – everyone’s response is a bit different. You remain fully conscious and can talk to us, but typically your anxiety melts away and things that might normally bother you feel distant.
We can adjust the level of sedation easily during the procedure to ensure you’re just the right amount of relaxed – one of the great advantages of nitrous is this flexibility. And we always give 100% oxygen at the end of the procedure for a few minutes to flush out any remaining nitrous from your system.
Safety and convenience: Nitrous oxide sedation is extremely safe when administered by trained professionals like our team as described here at Laughing-gas
It has been used for many decades. It doesn’t “knock you out” – it simply provides a light sedation and analgesic effect. One of the best parts: it wears off within 5-10 minutes after we stop the gas and give oxygen. This means you can drive yourself home (or back to work or school) and continue your day without lingering effects. There’s no hangover feeling. That makes nitrous a popular choice for busy adults or for kids, since there’s no recovery time needed.
Nitrous is also helpful for:
For those concerned: nitrous oxide doesn’t have allergic reactions typically. It’s just a gas you breathe out almost entirely. It’s also appropriate even if you have mild asthma (breathing through the nose is key though, if you’re congested, it’s less effective).
Many of our Horsham, Warrington and Ambler patients who initially felt too scared to get treatment now say, “Put me on the gas, doc!” and they breeze through appointments they once dreaded. It’s an easy solution that can make the difference between delaying care and confidently coming in to take care of your dental health.
If you come to our office and mention you’re anxious, we’ll likely suggest giving nitrous a try. And if you’re a parent, know that we commonly use nitrous for kids needing more than just a check-up – it helps them have a positive experience. The cost is minimal (insurance often covers some sedation for necessary procedures) and the benefit is huge.
At Horsham Dental Care, we want you to feel at ease. Nitrous oxide is one of our favorite tools to achieve that because we see how much it helps our patients. So next time, take a deep breath (through your nose) and let the laughing gas carry your worries away – we’ll take care of the rest!