Our patients often ask us, “Is nitrous oxide safe?” Nitrous oxide is a colorless gas that is used in the medical field as an anesthetic. It is especially helpful for patients who are either nervous about their dental procedure or are going through a dental procedure that may cause discomfort or pain.
It is mild and wears off immediately. While dentists have been using this tool for decades, there has continued to be debate over whether or not it is safe. In this article, we will attempt to address the issue and provide you with some sound resources to ease your mind about the use of nitrous oxide.
Recent Studies
Used since the early 1800’s, nitrous oxide has been a helpful resource for dentists wishing to provide their patients with a more comfortable experience. Since pain and discomfort often accompany certain dental procedures, dentists use nitrous oxide to relieve pain and even anxiety during root canals, teeth extractions, and other procedures.
Some patients may have very sensitive teeth or gums, a fear of needles, or even just fear about being at the dentist. These concerns can easily be addressed with the proper use of nitrous oxide.
3 Resources for More Information to Answer the Question: Is Nitrous Oxide Safe?
Studies have shown that when combined with oxygen, nitrous oxide is a simple and effective mild sedative for dental patients.
Over 95% of patients report no side effects after the application of nitrous oxide. Those who do experience side effects may have very slight nausea. While it is not recommended for women in their first trimester, it has been shown the nitrous oxide is safe even for young children. The best feature of nitrous oxide is that it can be closely controlled. Once you are breathing pure oxygen again, any effects of nitrous oxide quickly fade without any prolonged recovery or “wakeup” time. In fact, you will be ready and perfectly able to drive yourself home from a dental visit where you have received nitrous oxide.
[ul style=”1″]
[li]Resource #1 [/li]
[/ul]If you are still asking yourself, “Is nitrous oxide safe?” and are interested in doing some additional research on your own, we recommend this article: http://www.sedationcare.com/about-nitrous-oxide.
This resource will give you some more information about the specific details of nitrous oxide, including how it is administered, exposure statistics, and proper usage.
[ul style=”1″]
[li]Resource #2 [/li]
[/ul]For a video explaining whether nitrous oxide is safe for patients with anxiety, check out this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmX3pmx8bBc.
Dr. Stevens explains why nitrous oxide is such a great resource for you and your dentist.
[ul style=”1″]
[li]Resource #3 [/li]
[/ul]For a published article with real statistics from a reputable study, check out this resource from the US National Library of Medicine:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22134227.
This study concludes that nitrous oxide is safe to administer up to a certain percentage for patients of all ages. Apparently, the answer to the question “Is nitrous oxide safe?” is a resounding “yes!”
After becoming educated about nitrous oxide, our patients usually lose their fear and are happy to have relief from their anxiety or pain during a dental procedure. We always want to make sure our patients are safe and comfortable, so the use of nitrous oxide is welcomed in our office. At the same time, we also understand the importance proper education to relieve patients’ concerns about nitrous oxide. Hopefully this article has helped to answer some of your questions. If you are looking for a dentist qualified to use nitrous oxide, come visit us in the Plymouth Valley Dental Group office.
