Nitrous Oxide in San Tan Valley, AZ

Nitrous oxide is a very safe form of sedation. It is inhaled and the effects start within a few seconds. It can be adjusted quickly if a patient is too light or too deep. Also, after a few minutes without the gas, it is safe to drive home. It has very little side effects and hardly any effects on the kidneys, liver, brain, and more. Nitrous oxide makes many people feel happy and warm. It causes a lot of people to laugh so it is often called laughing gas. It is great for sedation when a person is nervous at the dentist. It is also a great pain relief. Not many dentists use nitrous oxide analgesia anymore. We would be glad to use it if you are extremely nervous or you need some pain relief during your procedure. Our goal is to keep you as relaxed as possible, no matter what procedure that we are performing.

• Takes effect within seconds of breathing it in
• Adjustable moment to moment during your appointment
• Wears off within minutes, so you can drive yourself home
• Helps with both nervousness and discomfort
• Suitable for many children as well as adults

The biggest advantage of nitrous oxide is how quickly it works and how quickly it leaves. Because you breathe it in, the calming effect begins almost immediately, and because it clears from your system within minutes of the mask coming off, most patients drive themselves home and return to a normal day. It is also one of the few sedation options that can be adjusted continuously. If you feel too light partway through a filling, we can increase it; if you feel too deep, we can ease it back. You stay awake and able to respond the whole time. For patients who avoid the dentist because of nerves, nitrous oxide often turns a dreaded appointment into an ordinary one. That matters beyond the single visit — patients who feel comfortable are far more likely to come back for routine care instead of waiting until something hurts.

A small, soft mask rests over your nose, and you simply breathe normally. Within a few seconds you will start to feel a warm, floaty calm — many people describe a light-headed, pleasantly detached feeling. You remain awake and aware throughout, and you can talk to us at any point. We monitor how you are doing during the procedure and adjust the level as needed. When treatment is finished, we switch you to pure oxygen for a few minutes, which clears the nitrous from your system. Most patients feel completely normal before they leave the chair. Because it leaves your body so quickly, nitrous oxide requires no recovery time and no driver. Tell us before your appointment if you have any breathing difficulties or are pregnant, and we will talk through whether it is the right choice for you.