What Is Nitrous Oxide? Common Questions And Answers

If you have dental anxiety, your dentist in Indianapolis and Bloomington, IN may recommend sedation dentistry. For many patients, this means breathing in nitrous oxide during their dental appointment.

If you’ve never had nitrous oxide before, you probably have questions about how nitrous oxide works, what it is, and why it helps. Below, we’ve listed some common questions and answers about nitrous oxide.

What Is Nitrous Oxide?

Nitrous oxide is a colorless, odorless gas that is delivered to patients through a mask during dental appointments. Nitrous oxide causes a feeling of calmness and even euphoria during the appointment. Nitrous oxide is one of the most common forms of dental sedation.

Who Benefits From Nitrous Oxide?

Dentists often recommend sedation dentistry for patients who experience dental anxiety. If you’re about to undergo a long and uncomfortable dental appointment, your dentist may recommend nitrous oxide to make the experience better.

Can You Drive After Having Nitrous Oxide?

Yes, you can drive after having nitrous oxide. The effects of nitrous oxide wear off almost as soon as you stop breathing it in.

Does Nitrous Oxide Stop Pain?

Nitrous oxide doesn’t stop pain, but it can make you indifferent to low levels of pain. If your dentist expects your procedure to be painful, they may recommend numbing the area.

Does Nitrous Oxide Put You To Sleep?

Nitrous oxide does not usually put patients to sleep.

Do you have more questions about nitrous oxide and sedation dentistry in Indianapolis and Bloomington, IN? Call today! We can help. We happily answer patient questions about sedation dentistry and their dental procedures generally. If you think that you could benefit from sedation dentistry, talk to your dentist before your next dental appointment.