If you fear dentistry, perhaps you’ve considered nitrous oxide sedation. The latter can calm you for all sorts of dental treatments. That said, you may have a lingering question: Will nitrous oxide put you to sleep? Based on the answer, you may decide for or against sedation. Truthfully, though, nitrous oxide should leave you awake. Your Dallas Dentist can tell you more if you want. To that end, here’s a primer on nitrous oxide, its effects, and why it’s safe.
Context: What’s Nitrous Oxide?
If you didn’t already know, nitrous oxide (better known as “laughing gas”) is a mild dental sedative. Dentists use it to calm patients down for specific procedures.
When applied to dentistry, a patient inhales nitrous oxide through a nose mask. Doing so allows the substance to spread through the body and take effect. The dentist also monitors this inhalation, ensuring you remain calm during treatment. Once the procedure is over, they’ll gently remove the nose mask. You should then feel the gas’ effects dissipate pretty quickly.
Will It Put You to Sleep?
Unlike general anesthesia, nitrous oxide doesn’t put patients to sleep. It only reduces your awareness and sensation as care proceeds. That way, you’re still lucid enough to respond to the dentist’s instructions.
Rather than sleep, nitrous oxide usually causes effects like:
- A lowering of anxiety and stress
- Greater feelings of relaxation and euphoria
- A diminished gag reflex
- A higher pain tolerance
Occasionally, the gas can cause odd sensations. Some patients report light-headedness or tingling in their limbs. On the other hand, others say their arms and legs feel heavy. Regardless, though, nitrous oxide should leave you calm and comfortable. You needn’t worry about suddenly dozing off during the treatment.
Is Nitrous Oxide Safe?
Nitrous oxide is the safest form of dental sedation. Other sedatives can interfere with a pre-existing issue, but it works for patients who can’t get sedation otherwise.
For starters, the dentist controls how much nitrous oxide you get. They’ll keep you from inhaling too much. Such a setup protects you from any possible complications.
More crucially, nitrous oxide’s effects are famously short-lived. They’ll wear off once you stop inhaling the gas for five minutes or so. From there, you’ll be well enough to drive home or back to work.
As you can see, nitrous oxide won’t put you to sleep. To learn more about it, talk to your dentist about sedation options at your next visit!
About the Practice
Midtown Family Dentistry is based in Dallas, TX. Led by five wonderful dentists, our practice gives each patient the personalized care they need. As such, we offer preventive, cosmetic, and restorative services, as well as emergency procedures like tooth extractions and root canal therapy. Our team is also equipped to provide dental sedation for rather nervous patients. For more details or to book a visit, you can reach us on our website or by phone at (469)-529-6016.