Nitrous Oxide

Nitrous oxide, also known as nitrous oxide or N₂O, is a colorless, sweet-smelling gas with multiple uses.

The gas is non-flammable and soluble in water and organic solvents. Importantly, it is not metabolized in the human body.

Nitrous oxide in the dentist’s office

To avoid any misunderstandings: Nitrous oxide is not an anesthetic, meaning it doesn’t have a numbing effect, and it’s not an anesthetic either.

Nitrous oxide induces deep relaxation, as if you were sitting on a cloud in a rocking chair. We call it the “California feeling.”

Anxiety and gagging disappear. If you’re afraid of the injection (which we still need), then you don’t care anymore… you simply don’t care!

And the patient experiences a time lapse! The treatment seems much shorter to them than it actually is.

Their heart rate slows down, their eyelids slow down.

How this works technically

Oxygen and nitrous oxide are administered through a nasal mask. We slowly increase the nitrous oxide concentration until all signs of deep relaxation are present. Now we can begin the treatment.

When we’re finished, the nitrous oxide concentration is set to 0%. This allows the nitrous oxide to be completely removed from the blood in just a few minutes, as it isn’t metabolized. This means that nitrous oxide doesn’t impair your ability to drive!

Nitrous oxide also for prophylaxis

Those who suffer from severe gagging often don’t go for dental checkups. This will come back to haunt them, as more and more problems will arise over the years. For these patients, nitrous oxide is a blessing, especially for preventative care!

If you want to join the winning side, then visit your dentist regularly for checkups. They will also explain your weaknesses when brushing your teeth (dentists have them too!) and what you can do better. And this won’t be explained to you by a health column in the newspaper, but by someone who is extremely knowledgeable about the subject!

Author: drw