- 4771 ROUTE 71, OSWEGO, IL 60543
- (630) 554-8600
When presented with something we didn’t want to do in the past, some of us may have said “I’d rather go to the dentist,” meaning dental care treatment was the only thing less desirable.
While the old adage remains mainly in the past, a reason why some may have been nervous about dental care treatment was the prospect of pain that came with it.
The current truth is that dental care is much more comfortable than it once was. At Oswego Dental Group, that includes the safe, effective use of nitrous oxide for analgesia (the lessening or absence of pain).
Also referred to as “laughing gas,” nitrous oxide is a colorless, faintly sweet-smelling, non-flammable compound used as a mild, short-acting sedative for certain dental procedures.
It provides sedation by slowing the nervous system to induce a sense of relaxed euphoria. In doing so, it helps to alleviate factors that might interfere with a relaxed dental procedure.
Mixed with oxygen, nitrous oxide takes effect within minutes of administration and does not put the patient to sleep. The patient will often feel happy, calm and a bit light-headed. Some might also experience some tingling in the arms and legs or a feeling of being heavier in the chair.
Because nitrous oxide lessens pain sensitivity but does induce sleep, patients can still often hear and respond to the dentist’s instructions or questions.
The American Dental Association points out that at least 12 delivery system audio and safety features have been developed to further enhance the safe and effective administration of the nitrous oxide and oxygen mix.
If you are scheduled for dental care treatment that might benefit from pain relief with nitrous oxide, your Oswego Dental Group dental hygienist will first discuss it with you and answer any question you might have.
If you would like nitrous oxide to be included with your dental care treatment, you’ll provide your consent to receive it.
When it’s time for the procedure, your dental hygienist will place a small plastic mask over the nose. (If a child will be receiving nitrous oxide for dental care treatment, a familiar scent might be added to help them get used to having the nose mask on.)
Next, the hygienist will open a tank valve to allow the nitrous oxide and oxygen to flow for you to breathe. The gas can be adjusted according to how you are feeling the desired effects.
The gas will continue to flow as your Oswego Dental Group dentist performs your procedure. Depending on the care you’re receiving, a local anesthetic might also be used, as nitrous oxide lowers but doesn’t eliminate pain.
Once your procedure is finished, the nitrous oxide will be turned off. You’ll be asked to breathe pure oxygen through the mask until you feel alert again. Nitrous oxide will often wear off almost as swiftly as it takes effect.
When you do feel alert, the mask will be removed. We’ll have you wait for a period to ensure the effects have sufficiently cleared for you to go home. In most cases, patients who receive nitrous oxide can drive themselves home after the waiting period.
You can typically return to normal activities after leaving your Oswego Dental Group appointment. You can eat and drink immediately after as well.
Patients who receive a local anesthetic in addition to nitrous oxide might prefer to wait a bit longer for the numbness to wear off before they eat and drink.
Some patients may also choose to start eating and drinking with something light and then work up to more-substantial food during the first several hours after the dental visit.
Nitrous oxide can be a helpful component in dental care treatment for individuals who:
feel fearful or anxious about going to the dentist
have a sensitive gag reflex that can interfere with dental care
have very sensitive teeth
tend to respond less to local anesthesia
have difficulty controlling movements
have special needs (physical, cognitive or behavioral)
are younger in age and must undergo a longer dental procedure
If you would like to learn more about how we use nitrous oxide for dental care treatment, or if you would like to schedule a dental appointment, call us at (630) 554-8600 or complete our contact form.
The gas was discovered in 1772 by the English chemist Joseph Priestley, an Enlightenment thinker and a contemporary of Benjamin Franklin.
During the 1770s, gases were often referred to as “airs.”
Priestley discovered the gas while living next to a brewery, which offered a nearly unlimited supply of carbon dioxide bubbling from the fermentation tanks. He used a pneumatic trough to isolate and identify eight gases, one of which would later be named nitrous oxide.
Another English chemist, Humphry Davy, who investigated gases as curative therapies, later wrote about nitrous oxide, including mention of its potential effects for pain management.
In the mid-1800s, American dentist Horace Wells began experimenting with nitrous oxide as a dental anesthetic.