Inhalation Sedation in Cary and Holly Springs, NC

Stanley Dentistry uses Nitrous Oxide, also known as laughing gas. It is the most commonly used type of the inhalation sedations in dental offices. The advantage to using Nitrous Oxide is that it is rapid. The depth of sedation can be adjusted and the dentist can quickly decrease the sedative effects of inhalation sedation. No other methods of sedation give the dentist this much control. Recovery time with Nitrous Oxide is usually only a few minutes. The patient will have no wait period at the end of the procedure.

Nitrous Oxide (N2O) is simply a gas that you can breathe in. It’s colorless, sweet-smelling, and nonirritating.

The Onset of Action of inhalation sedation is rapid. It is approximately as fast as intravenous (IV) medications. The onset for both inhalation and IV Sedation is measured in seconds while oral, rectal or intramuscular (IM) sedation methods can take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes.

The Recovery Time associated with the use of nitrous is only a few minutes. This is because, unlike other forms of sedation (ie. IV, oral, intramuscular), Nitrous is not metabolized by the body. Rather, the gas is just blown off by the body in 3-5 minutes. This means the patient has no wait period or “hangover” at the end of the procedure.

Lastly, if you have a strong gag reflex, Nitrous Oxide may be for you. Nitrous has been shown effective in eliminating or decreasing one’s gag reflex. Stanley Dentistry will work with you to choose the best type of sedation for your procedure.