Most children are comfortable and confident in the pediatric dental setting at Cambridge Pediatric Dental Associates. Sometimes, however, a child may feel apprehensive before or during a restorative visit. Your child may need more support than the gentle, caring manner of our CPDA team members to feel comfortable for a particular restorative visit. Nitrous oxide/oxygen is a safe and effective gas used to calm a child’s fear of the dental visit and enhance effective communication. Additionally, nitrous oxide/oxygen diminishes the gag reflex for children whose gag reflex interferes with dental treatment.

Nitrous oxide/oxygen is a blend of two gases – oxygen and nitrous oxide. A fitted mask is placed over the nose and, as the child undergoing the restorative treatment breathes normally, uptake of the virtually odorless gas with a faint, sweet smell occurs through the lungs. At the end of the treatment, it is eliminated after a short period of breathing oxygen and has no lingering effects.

Your child will feel a sense of well-being and relaxation. Since it may produce a feeling of giddiness, it is often called “laughing gas”. Nitrous oxide/oxygen raises the pain threshold, reduces the gag reflex, diminishes sounds of the dental environment, and may even make the time seem to pass quickly.

Nitrous oxide/oxygen is very safe and is typically well tolerated. It has a rapid onset, is reversible, concentrations can be adjusted, and is non-allergenic. Your child remains fully conscious and is talking and interacting throughout the entire visit with the CPDA team.

For more information about nitrous oxide or to schedule a consultation for treatment, please contact us at our Cambridge pediatric dental office.