Does the thought of extracting a tooth, getting a root canal procedure or simply getting your teeth cleaned make you anxious and tensed? Do you feel to prefer bearing the toothache and not have any treatment rather than going to a dentist? Do not worry, you are not alone! A lot of people have a similar kind of fear.

For people who have fear of a dental procedure or going to a dentist, sedation can help calm them and relieve their anxiety. Sedation helps in relaxing the patients during a dental procedure. Nitrous oxide, also called the ‘laughing gas’ is a safe and effective sedative agent. It is mixed with oxygen and breathed through a mask placed over your nose to help you relax and make you comfortable during dental procedures.1 You will be asked to breathe normally through your nose, and within minutes you will begin to feel the effects of the nitrous oxide like light-headedness or a tingling in your arms and legs, ultimately making you feel calm and comfortable.Nitrous oxide sedation need not necessarily put you to sleep and you can hear and respond to your dentist’s requests and directions. Your dentist can control the amount of gas you inhale and its effects quickly wear off once the mask is removed.

Nitrous oxide sedation may be an option for you to perform dental procedures if you are very anxious, have a low pain threshold, have very sensitive teeth, have a bad gag reflex or need a large amount of dental work completed. It is the only form of sedation after which the patient can drive back home after the dental procedure. It is a suitable option for children who are terrified to visit a dentist or who cannot sit still during a dental procedure as it is safe in children and can be administered by any dentist.