Nitrous Oxide for Children

Sometimes, children are too fearful to receive necessary dental treatment. When this happens, conscious sedation with nitrous oxide may be recommended to help make your child’s experience of dental treatment stress-free.

Conscious sedation involves medication to help ease tension and block pain during dental treatment, and does not put you to sleep. For pediatric treatments that opt for conscious sedation, nitrous oxide is used. Nitrous oxide is an anxiolytic, which means it makes anxiety disappear. It might cause a floating sensation, and maybe tingling in hands and feet. While under treatment, your child will be fully alert, aware of what is going on, and able to speak.

Nitrous oxide is delivered through a small mask that fits over the child’s nose. Once it has been confirmed that your child is calm and comfortable, the dental procedure can begin.

Nitrous Oxide is not a direct substitute for a local anesthetic, but sometimes an anesthetic injection is not needed while under nitrous oxide.

When treatment is over, the flow of nitrous oxide is decreased to zero, and the oxygen will be increased. After resting in the chair for a few minutes, the child will feel completely normal.

If your child’s anxiety prevents them from getting the care they need, conscious sedation with nitrous oxide might be a good option. Before your child is treated, you will be asked for a complete medical history, including any medications your child is taking. Your child will be kept safe and comfortable throughout the procedure.

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  • "A warm and welcoming dental practice with a top notch team. I live in another city now and genuinely miss visiting Madrona Family Dental because of my fantastic conversations with Kristen!"
    - Kelly Stevens
  • "As someone who has always hated going to the dentist, I can say Dr. Tarr and his hygienists are the best out there. I hated getting my teeth cleaned because it was always painful, but the dental hygienists at the office are so good I am never in pain and it’s over before I know it."
    -Meagan W.
  • "I have some very specific needs for dentistry that have caused me tremendous issues in the past, but Dr Tarr and his amazing staff are by far the best dental experience I've ever had in every way."
    - Anonymous
  • "Dr. Loren Tarr and his entire staff are the most courteous and professional team, front office and back, I have ever encountered. The dental care provided by Dr. Tarr and his hygienists is second to none. My teeth and gums are healthier than before I started coming here (thanks to their encouragement to WaterPik). There was a mistake made by a lab once when I was getting a decades-old crown replaced; Dr. Tarr made sure to set everything right. (And the crown is amazing! It feels like a real tooth.) Madrona Family Dental gets my highest recommendation."
    - Laura P.