Dentists have used nitrous oxide, also called laughing gas, to help patients sit comfortably through dental procedures for almost two centuries. While many people think of it as an anesthetic used for dental fillings, it can also be used to help patients with mild to moderate dental anxiety feel at ease in the dentist’s chair. If you aren’t particularly fond of your routine dental cleanings and checkups, you might be curious about whether nitrous oxide can be used to help you have a pleasant visit with your dentist the next time you see them. Here’s how to tell if nitrous oxide sedation might be right for you.
(more…)