Going to the dentist is not a pleasant experience for most people. Even if they are just there for a checkup and cleaning, most people do not look forward to their visits to the dentist. You are stuck in a chair with someone messing around inside your mouth, sometimes doing painful things. However, there are things that can be done to make the visit a bit less scary for those who are afraid of the dentist. One common method is the use of nitrous oxide dentistry.
In nitrous oxide dentistry, a patient is given a mask that covers their nose, and the nitrous oxide gas is dispensed through the mask. After a few seconds to a few minutes, the patient will begin to feel the effects of the gas. This gas, also known as laughing gas, imparts a feeling of euphoria and relaxation. It also makes procedures less painful, though in many cases an injection is also given after the gas takes effect in order to make sure the patient doesn't feel any pain.
This feeling of euphoria and relaxation is one of the main advantages of nitrous oxide dentistry. It makes it so that young children and other patients that are scared of the dentist or a particular procedure relax enough to make it possible for the dentist to perform the procedure. It also makes it possible to perform dental procedures on people who have a strong gag reflex that usually makes it difficult for them to get dental work done.
One advantage of using nitrous oxide over other forms of anesthesia is that the patient is able to bring himself to and from the dentist's office and doesn't need to be escorted by someone else. A short period of time spent breathing pure oxygen usually reverses the effects of the gas so that a person is in full command of themselves and safely able to drive.
Since nitrous oxide dentistry has been in use for a long time, it is known to be safe and the possible side effects, which are minimal, are also well known. The main issue with this gas is the fact that some people experience nausea when given the gas. For this reason, it is usually recommended that people do not eat for two hours before receiving the gas.