Nitrous oxide is a gas, commonly referred to as 'happy gas' or 'laughing gas'.

Nitrous oxide is a colourless gas which decreases pain sensitivity and gives the patient a pleasant level of sedation.

The gas is administered with a comfortable mask placed over the nose, and the patient is required to breathe in through the nose and out through their mouth. Then in anywhere from 30 seconds to 3 or 4 minutes, the patient will begin to feel relaxed and sedated.

After the gas is adjusted to the appropriate dose, we may then comfortably give a local anaesthetic injection (if needed) to the patient and proceed with the dental treatment. Once treatment is completed, the patient is given pure oxygen to breathe for about five minutes, and all of the effects of the sedation are usually reversed.

As a precaution, patients should not eat anything for about two hours prior to the use of the gas. Unlike IV sedation or general anesthesia, the patient can almost always leave the office by themselves, without an escort.

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