Nitrous oxide, commonly referred to as Laughing gas, is a colorless and odorless gas used as an analgesic/anxiolytic agent that causes central nervous system depression and euphoria.

It is one of the safest and most effective sedative agents that is used in certain dental procedures.

If you get nervous or experience anxiety before or during a visit to the dentist, or if you have neglected taking care of your teeth and gums due to fear of the dentist, you might be a good candidate for nitrous oxide dentistry.

At Madison Green Family Dental, Dr. Ana Ortiz is passionate about making sure all of our patients have an enjoyable, comfortable visit every time they walk into the office. If you’re looking for a comfortable, friendly, & convenient family dentist around you that offers nitrous oxide sedation, we are always accepting new patients, contact us today to book an appointment.

Click to book online or call us at (561) 379-1311 right away.

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In sedation dentistry, Nitrous oxide (N2O) is the most commonly used inhalation anesthetic procedure and is sometimes used in emergency centers and ambulatory surgery centers. 

The nitrous oxide is mixed with oxygen gas and is inhaled through a small mask that fits over the nose.

This procedure helps to make a patient feel relaxed and comfortable during surgeries and other dental processes. Most people think this procedure makes patients fall asleep, but it does not.

Inhalational anesthetics, including nitrous oxide-oxygen, are absorbed and distributed as the result of pressure gradients in the lungs and equilibrate when the tension of inspired gas equals that in alveoli, blood, and tissues.

Patients, while undergoing treatment or surgery under nitrous oxide sedation, will be able to hear and respond to any request the dentist may have for them. The dentist will ask the patient to breathe normally through the nasal holes, and within a few minutes, such patient should ideally begin to effect of the nitrous oxide.

The benefits of nitrous oxide dental application are pretty enormous. In a number of ways, nitrous oxide sedation is preferred over oral sedation. This is due to the obnoxious or rather unpleasant odor of pills as some patients are allergic to pills. Another reason is as a result of the fact that oral sedation is more powerful than N2O sedation.

Some of the benefits include the following:

• The gas is pleasant, sedative, and non-irritating.
•  Laughing gas sedation is easy to administer to patients.
•  The onset of action of N2O gas is rapid.
• Preparation of patients is not required prior to nitrous oxide sedation.
•  Recovery is speedy.
•  The rapid uptake and quick elimination of nitrous oxide ensure that the patient does not experience any hangover effect.
•  Patients who are made to undergo nitrous oxide sedation have a wide safety margin.
•  The cardio-respiratory function of patients is stable.
• It is a suitable alternative for patients who have a phobia of needles.
• N2O is a gas, so it has the ability to reach the brain quickly and saturate the brain with itself to induce relaxation.

• It is recommended for obstreperous and fearful patients.
•  Patient with special health issues whose health status may not permit local anesthesia.
•  A cooperate child who undergoing a lengthy dental procedure.
•  It is employed by sedation dentists and pediatric dentists to help younger patients induce amnesia and subsequently increase analgesia.
•  It is recommended for patients with high hyper-responsive gap reflexes.
•  Quite useful for chronic pains of patients suffering from terminal illness and other pains associated with cancer treatment.
•  Nitrous oxide helps children undergoing basic procedures such as venous cannulation and lumbar puncture recover quickly.

The effect of nitrous oxide sedation is felt in minutes, and soon after the operation of the gas is interrupted, the sedation effect wears off after a few minutes. Before the effect is felt, however, the patient spends between 30 seconds to 3-4 minutes to feel the effect.

In an analysis carried out on patients who have used nitrous oxide sedation, the results show that about one-third of patients begin to experience numbness in their cheeks and gum areas.

Sometimes, the patients may feel a tingling in the legs and arms or may even feel light-headed. However, some patients have reported their legs felt heavy. Generally, the patient will feel comfortable and relaxed during the sedation process.

However, patients are not supposed to take heavy meals prior to nitrous oxide sedation and in cases of patients who use contact lenses, they are meant to be removed because the gas that leaks around the nose bridge may produce drying of the eyes for such patients.

After the treatment is completed, patients are free from the effects of nitrous oxide gas. However, there are some rare cases where the effects may last up to 30 to 40 minutes.

The cost of nitrous oxide sedation depends on a number of factors. It generally depends on the professionalism of the dentist, the system employed in the process, the geographic location of the individual, and the individual’s insurance coverage.

Some insurance companies do not cover nitrous oxide sedation. This means that it is an out-of-pocket expense for the patients. The cost ranges from a few hundred dollars to about thousands of dollars.

Basically, sedation by a nitrous oxide dentist at Royal Palm beach charges between $225 to $300. However, the dental treatment cost is excluded from the above figure.

Generally, nitrous oxide sedation is less expensive compared to oral sedation.

Do you find yourself searching for a “nitrous oxide dentist near me” or have you neglected to visit the dentist due to fear? Or maybe you experience nervousness or anxiety before & during your dental appointment.

At Madison Green Family Dental our dentists are here to serve the Royal Palm Beach community and make sure have a comfortable visit. Dr. Ana Ortiz is passionate about dentistry and loves helping her patients maintain healthy smiles. If you’re looking for a comfortable, friendly, & convenient family dentist around you that offers nitrous oxide sedation, we encourage you to contact us today and let us help you bring back your beautiful smile combined with good dental health!

Click to book online or call us at (561) 379-1311 right away.

Call Now to Book an Appointment

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By: Michelle Caldwell
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“My experience with Dr. Ana Ortiz and all the staff has been wonderful. Dr. Ortiz personally sat with me and went over my dental needs. She explained thoroughly each step. She made me feel very comfortable and eased all my anxiety.
I highly recommend.”