Now it’s easier than ever to use laughing gas at dentist offices! But here at MFD, we’ve found that a few of our patients still have questions.
So we’re here to give you some info about what it is, how it works, and how laughing gas can help you! Some patients wonder what this nitrous is all about, just like the previous questions we’ve answered:
So let’s dive into the specifics.
Nitrous Oxide (AKA Laughing Gas or Nitrous) is a safe and effective sedative commonly offered during dental procedures
Laughing gas is a form of sedation used to treat dental anxiety during treatment. While it’s not a substitute for local anesthetic (a shot in your mouth), it does help to increase a person’s ability to complete irritating procedures.
Laughing gas is extremely safe, can be out of your system almost immediately (3-5 minutes), and you’re safe to drive right after treatment.
Here at MFD, Dr. Monica completed training on nitrous oxide while in dental school, and also recently completed additional training through a continuing education course. With this recent course, our office trained on all of the new and updated information regarding laughing gas to make sure we’re using it in a safe and effective manner for our patients.
Laughing gas is easy to use during many dental procedures!
To give you an idea of how laughing gas is used in our office, here’s an example of what we commonly do.
After taking your blood pressure, we make sure that you’re in a comfortable position in your chair. At that point, we place a nasal mask over your nose and all you need to do is breath.
Dr. Monica and our other trained Teammates will continually monitor the nitrous levels and wait for the laughing gas to take effect. Sedation can be achieved in as little as 3-5 minutes.
While we’re waiting for those few minutes, our Team will monitor you for signs of sedation. We’ll also talk with you to see how you’re feeling so that we’re able to determine that you’ve reached an effective level of sedation.
Once we’re there, we’ll start your treatment.
Then, after your dental procedure is complete, we’ll turn off the laughing gas and administer 5 minutes of 100% oxygen.
After we determine that you’re feeling ‘back to normal’, we shake hands, fist bump, and you’re on your way!
We can use laughing gas on many procedures as well as your regular cleanings
If you let us know while we’re scheduling your next appointment, we’ll make sure to have the laughing gas ready.
While laughing gas may not work for everyone, we’re happy to discuss how it can work with your unique medical needs.
Feel free to call today to see if you’re a good candidate!
-MFD
