Some patients may require the use of nitrous oxide to help assist in alleviating their anxiety or lessen the amount of anxiety prior to or during a procedure. Nitrous oxide, sometimes referred to as laughing gas, has a relaxing effect on the body and allows for the dentist to more efficiently work and perform high quality dental work. The purpose of the nitrous oxide is to relax and lessen anxiety for the patient and in certain patients it can greatly reduce of lessen a gag reflex, which can make dental work difficult to tolerate. Nitrous oxide is NOT intended to make your child go to sleep and at all times the child will be awake and able to easily talk the dentist or assistant. Nitrous oxide has been used and is currently used in the medical field and is extremely safe. If your child is scheduled for a nitrous oxide appointment, we ask they eat only a small meal 4 hours prior to the appointment, or if the appointment is early in the morning that they have an empty stomach. If you child takes daily medications, please may the dentist aware so they can either tell you to stop or continue taking the medicine. If your child has an ear infection or obstructed upper airway due to a cold or illness, we may not be able to safely and effectively use the nitrous oxide on that day’s visit.

Special Instructions

• We require that the child receive little or no food before the dental visit. Occasionally nausea or vomiting occurs when a child has a full stomach.
• Inform us in advance if your child has any respiratory challenges that may make breathing through the nose difficult or if your child is being treated for an ear infection.
• Please inform us if your child is pregnant, has sensitivity to medications, and/or is presently on psychiatric mood altering drugs or other medications