We have all heard of Happy Gas, but what is it and why is it used for dental treatment?
Happy Gas is actually a gas called Nitrous Oxide. In a dental environment, nitrous oxide can be inhaled, in combination with oxygen, to help calm a patient down.
Nitrous Oxide is a colourless, odourless gas that is often referred to as relative analgesia or RA. Depending on concentration and length of administration different levels of sedation can be experienced- anything from a tingling sensation in the arms and legs, feelings of well being and euphoria to a deeper sleepy feeling. As people experience things in different ways, should any unpleasant symptoms be felt we can adjust the percentage of nitrous to oxygen with an almost immediate effect. It is administered by the use of a mask over the patients nose.
NITROUS OXIDE:
- Works rapidly
- Can be altered from moment to moment so that the depth of sedation can be increased or decreased
- Has no hang over effect- the gas eliminates from the body within 3-5 minutes after the gas supply has stopped
- Has a variable duration of action, unlike other techniques such as pills or intravenous drugs
- Can be used to help minimise gagging
Nitrous oxide is a good, safe way to administer sedation for slightly apprehensive patients.
