Nitrous Oxide

Nitrous oxide can help you relax if you suffer from dental anxiety. At Glow Dental, in Closter, New Jersey, Jihye Park, DDS, uses nitrous oxide to ensure a comfortable and pain-free oral health care experience. Nitrous oxide wears off quickly and presents few side effects, so you don’t have to worry about getting a ride home or recovering afterward. To learn more about sedation dentistry with nitrous oxide, call the office today or book online.

What is nitrous oxide?

Nitrous oxide is a type of sedation dentistry. It’s a clear, odorless gas that you breathe through a mask placed over your mouth and nose. When nitrous oxide enters your body, it helps you relax while causing a sense of euphoria. You might even feel like smiling or giggling, which is where it gets its nickname –– laughing gas.

Who can benefit from treatment with nitrous oxide?

At Glow Dental, Dr. Park uses nitrous oxide to help people who:

• Experience dental anxiety
• Have a low pain tolerance
• Have very sensitive teeth
• Need lots of dental work completed

You might also benefit from sedation dentistry with nitrous oxide if you have an underlying health problem, like Parkinson’s disease, that makes it hard to sit still. 

Am I a candidate for nitrous oxide?

To determine if you’re a candidate for sedation dentistry with nitrous oxide, Dr. Park reviews your dental records and asks about your health history, including if you take any prescription medications and if you have any underlying health problems, like heart or kidney disease.

Answer Dr. Park’s questions honestly, as your responses help determine the best course of treatment. 

What happens during sedation dentistry with nitrous oxide?

If Dr. Park determines that you can benefit from nitrous oxide, she places a plastic mask over your mouth and nose. Continue breathing as you normally would. The mask releases a combination of oxygen and nitrous oxide into your bloodstream, making you feel happy and relaxed.

Once you’re comfortable, Dr. Park completes the necessary dental work. For example, if you’re getting a crown, she removes the decaying part of your tooth enamel and covers it with a synthetic cap.

If you experience any sensitivity during treatment, make sure to speak up. Dr. Park can easily adjust the amount of nitrous oxide you receive, ensuring your comfort.

What is recovery like after treatment with nitrous oxide?

After treatment with nitrous oxide, Dr. Park moves you to a recovery room for observation. The nitrous oxide takes between 15-20 minutes to wear off. After it does, you can drive yourself home or return to work. 

Nitrous oxide doesn’t present any long-term side effects. You might feel groggy or tired the rest of the day, but these symptoms should subside quickly.

To learn more about sedation dentistry with nitrous oxide, call Glow Dental today or book online.