What is laughing gas, and how is it used in dentistry? What is laughing gas made of?
Laughing gas is nitrous oxide, a colorless, non-flammable gas commonly used for lengthy medical or dental procedures. If you are curious about the effects and uses of laughing gas, continue reading or get in touch with The Chicago Dental Studio today.
Here at The Chicago Dental Studio, we have made it our mission to provide top-notch dental care. We believe that dentistry is all too often done in a way that causes patients excess anxiety and discomfort and doesn’t emphasize how relaxing the experience can truly be. We are passionate about righting that wrong and providing high-end dental services to those who want to be pampered.
What Is Laughing Gas Used For?
In dentistry or other medical procedures, laughing gas is used as an anesthetic to sedate patients before a procedure. While laughing gas won’t put patients fully under, it will sedate them and cause them to feel relaxed, euphoric, happy, etc.
Laughing gas is most often used for children during lengthy dental procedures or patients who do not tolerate local anesthesia well.
What is Laughing Gas Like?
If it is your first time using laughing gas and you want to know what to expect before getting treatments, here are some of the most common effects that patients experience due to laughing gas.
- A Sense of Relaxation
- Mild Euphoria
- Happiness
- Light-Headedness
- Heaviness in the Limbs (arms and legs)
- Tingling
- Mild Hallucinations
What are the Side Effects of Laughing Gas?
Most people who use laughing gas for a medical or dental procedure will not experience any side effects. In the event that you do experience side effects, some of the most common ones reported by patients include:
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Nausea or Vomiting
- Excessive Sweating
- Mild Hallucinations
- Sound Distortions
- Shivering
Does Nitrous Oxide Help Anxiety?
Laughing gas is a sedative that can help calm anxious patients down by decreasing pain and awareness, instilling a sense of elation or euphoria, and calming the nerves.
Because of its sedative effects, laughing gas does help calm patients down and is often used on anxious children or adult patients.
Is Laughing Gas Good for Kids?
Laughing gas is often used for kids who are undergoing a lengthy dental procedure as it can aid with calming them down, reduce discomfort, and help the procedure progress at a good pace.
Parents of young children often find that their kids will refuse to open their mouths due to anxiety about visiting the dentist. In this and many other cases, laughing gas is immensely beneficial for helping get the job done with minimal discomfort for the child.
FAQs About Laughing Gas
Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about laughing gas.
What does Laughing Gas do to you?
Laughing gas will cause numbness, tingling, and a sense of mild euphoria, which causes patients to experience less pain/discomfort during procedures. Patients may still be able to hear and communicate with doctors and dentists even under the effects of laughing gas.
Can you still feel pain with Laughing Gas?
While laughing gas eliminates sensations of pain for most patients, some patients may still experience mild discomfort during procedures.
Does Laughing Gas put you to sleep?
Laughing gas does not put patients to sleep, and in most cases, patients will still be able to communicate with their medical staff while under the influence of laughing gas.
Is Laughing Gas harmful to humans?
In the vast majority of cases, when laughing gas is administered appropriately, there are no lasting negative side effects. In the event that laughing gas is misused, the results may be dangerous or life-threatening.
Laughing gas should never be administered by anyone except a medical professional.
Schedule a Consultation at The Chicago Dental Studio Today
Whether you are in need of Invisalign, dental crowns, or other luxury dental procedures, get in touch with The Chicago Dental Studio today.
At our studio, we prioritize giving patients a high-end dental experience. We believe dentistry should be a way to pamper yourself, kick back, relax, and enjoy the experience.
Get in touch with our team of dental professionals today to schedule an initial consultation or to speak with one of our staff about your dental needs.
