Nitrous oxide has been used safely in pediatric dentistry since the early 1900s. Our goal at Highlands Pediatric Dentistry is to make sure your child has the best experience they can have at every appointment. Nitrous oxide is a very useful adjunct for helping a pediatric patient remain comfortable through a dental procedure due to it's three main effects:

1. Analgesia - some teeth require local anesthesia "numbing" to be worked on; nitrous oxide helps to numb the site to be injected into, thus allowing the patient to have a better experience.
2. Anxiety relief - the unknown can be scary for kids and nitrous oxide helps to calm any anxiety or apprehension they may have.
3. Suppression of the gag reflex - helps the child tolerate the dentist manipulating their oral cavity.

Nitrous oxide is rapidly removed from the body upon exhalation, and following the procedure the patient is given 100% oxygen for five minutes, which removes all nitrous oxide from their body.