Nitrous Oxide Sedation in Sharjah

What is nitrous oxide sedation?

Nitrous oxide sedation is a light form of dental sedation in which you breathe a mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen through a soft mask resting over your nose. Within a short time you feel calm, warm and a little floaty, and the sounds and smells of the clinic feel further away. You stay awake the whole time, you can answer the dentist and you breathe normally on your own.

The gas is known as laughing gas because some people feel giggly as it takes effect. A detail many patients find surprising: the effect is controlled breath by breath. The dentist can raise or lower the amount during the appointment, and once the gas is switched off and you breathe plain oxygen, the effect fades quickly.

At Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah, nitrous oxide sedation is given in the dental clinic by the dentist, with a trained nurse beside the chair. It works alongside local anaesthetic, which still numbs the tooth; the gas eases the worry, and the numbing looks after the tooth.

Who needs it

Nitrous oxide sedation suits people for whom anxiety makes dental care hard to face, including:

• adults with dental anxiety or a strong fear of needles, where the gas makes the numbing injection easier to accept;
• children who are nervous about treatment, alongside the gentle approach used in pediatric dentistry;
• people with a strong gag reflex during impressions, x-rays or treatment at the back of the mouth;
• longer or more involved visits, such as a tooth extraction or several fillings in one sitting.

For children, the gas works best when the child is willing to wear the nose mask and breathe through the nose. The dentist introduces the mask at an earlier visit if that helps a child get used to it.

What happens

1. Health check. The dentist asks about your health, medicines and any breathing or nasal problems, and explains how the gas will feel.
2. Mask. A small, soft mask is placed over your nose. You breathe plain oxygen first, then the dentist slowly introduces nitrous oxide.
3. Settling. Over a few breaths you feel relaxed, with tingling in the hands or feet and a heavy, comfortable feeling. The dentist adjusts the level until you feel calm and remain responsive.
4. Treatment. Local anaesthetic is given if the treatment needs it, and the dental work goes ahead while you breathe through your nose. The dentist and nurse talk to you throughout and check on you regularly.
5. Recovery. At the end, the gas is switched off and you breathe oxygen for a short while to clear it. You sit up slowly and rest in the chair until you feel like yourself again.

Preparing for it

Eat a light meal beforehand; a large meal close to the appointment can make you feel queasy, and an empty stomach can make you feel light-headed. Wear comfortable clothes and remove lipstick, and bring a list of your medicines.

Tell the dentist if you have a cold, blocked nose or chest infection, since the gas is breathed through the nose, and if you are pregnant or think you might be. A parent or guardian comes with a child and stays for the whole visit. If you are fasting during Ramadan, the dentist can advise on appointment timing that suits your fast and the light meal beforehand.

Afterwards

The gas clears from the body quickly once you breathe oxygen, and most people leave the clinic feeling clear-headed. Rest for the remainder of the day if you feel tired. Follow the aftercare advice for the dental treatment itself, such as avoiding hot drinks until any numbness wears off.

Ask the dentist before driving, operating machinery or making important decisions on the day. Children go home with their parent and can usually return to normal play; keep an eye on them until they are fully themselves.

Contact the dentist if nausea, dizziness or a headache persists after you leave the clinic, and go to the emergency department straight away if you or your child has any difficulty breathing.

Cost and insurance

Coverage of nitrous oxide sedation varies between UAE insurance plans. Some dental plans include it with the treatment it supports, particularly for children, and others treat it as an extra; pre-approval may be needed. Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah can check your cover for both the sedation and the dental treatment on 06 599 7777.