{"id":960,"date":"2019-01-16T18:09:39","date_gmt":"2019-01-16T18:09:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mydentalpracticeblog.com\/\/hudsonhighlandsdentistry\/dental-care-blog\/nitrous-oxide-having-a-gas-at-the-dentist\/"},"modified":"2019-03-11T19:17:47","modified_gmt":"2019-03-11T19:17:47","slug":"nitrous-oxide-having-a-gas-at-the-dentist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mydentalpracticeblog.com\/hudsonhighlandsdentistry\/dental-care-blog\/nitrous-oxide-having-a-gas-at-the-dentist\/","title":{"rendered":"Nitrous Oxide: Having A Gas At The Dentist"},"content":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n

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MOST OF US HAVE<\/b> at least heard of laughing gas, the whimsically-nicknamed sedation method used by dentists, even if we haven\u2019t had it ourselves. But what exactly is laughing gas, and why is it so closely associated with dentistry?<\/p>\n

Nitrous Oxide From Discovery To Dentistry<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Laughing gas is a colorless, odorless gas. It consists of two nitrogen atoms and one oxygen atom bonded together. The way it works is not entirely clear, but studies do indicate that it reduces a patient\u2019s perception of pain and increases the release of dopamine.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In 1772, Joseph Priestly<\/a> first isolated the compound nitrous oxide. It wasn\u2019t until 1799 that Humphry Davy discovered the relaxing, euphoria-inducing effects that earned it the name laughing gas. Several decades later, in the 1860s in Germany, nitrous oxide found its place in dentistry, and we still use it today.<\/p>\n

Is Laughing Gas Safe?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The nitrous oxide used in a medical setting is very safe, because exposure is carefully controlled<\/a>. The masks dentists use to administer the gas first delivers pure oxygen, followed by a mixture of oxygen and nitrous oxide. The limited exposure produces temporary effects that reduce pain and help the patient relax during a procedure.<\/strong>\u00a0In rare cases, it may cause side effects like headaches, shivering, sweating, nausea, or fatigue.<\/p>\n

Recreational use<\/a> of nitrous oxide, on the other hand, is no laughing matter because few to none of the factors that make it safe in a medical context are present.<\/strong> The gas is kept cold enough to cause frostbite to the mouth, nose, and throat if inhaled directly, and it is stored at such high pressure that it can damage the lungs. Outside of a medical professional\u2019s hands, laughing gas can also cause asphyxiation because it isn\u2019t properly mixed with oxygen.<\/p>\n

Laughing Gas Versus Dental Anxiety<\/strong><\/h3>\n

For patients who suffer from dental anxiety, laughing gas can be especially helpful. Foregoing dental treatment because of anxiety and fear will only give the problem time to become worse. Laughing gas is one option to help anxious patients relax and feel comfortable during a dental procedure<\/strong>, or even during a routine dental appointment.<\/p>\n