Due to the nature of the dental treatment that your child required and/or our concerns for his/her inability to cooperate for this treatment, we believe that the use of nitrous oxide (“laughing gas”) was helpful in reducing his/her anxiety and assuring comfort. It allowed us to provide your child with the optimum level of dentistry. The following information will help you understand the nature of this treatment modality:
- Nitrous oxide is very safe and has been used for over 100 years in medicine and dentistry. Nitrous oxide will not cause your child to sleep; rather s/he will remain awake and responsive during the entire visit. This is NOT deep sedation or general anesthesia which we only perform in the Operating Room.
- During this procedure, we administer more oxygen than children breathe in normal room air. This ensures a wide margin of safety.
POSTOPERATIVE INSTRUCTIONS:
The effects of the gas (relaxation and reduced pain sensation) will last only a few minutes after the nitrous oxide is turned off and 100% oxygen is given. Your child will be able to resume normal activities after the procedure, except for those directed by us due to the nature of the dental treatment.