Nitrous oxide works quickly to alleviate anxiety and create a sense of well-being. If you’re a bit nervous before a procedure, you’ll feel the tension melt away within minutes of breathing the gas.
Nitrous Oxide Sedation (Laughing Gas) in Calgary
Gentle, Fast-Acting Relaxation for Every Patient
For patients who experience mild anxiety or want extra comfort during dental procedures, nitrous oxide sedation – commonly known as laughing gas – is an excellent option. At Buffalo Run Dental, we offer nitrous oxide to help both adults and children feel more relaxed and at ease in the dental chair. Nitrous oxide is a safe, gentle sedative in the form of a gas that you inhale through a small mask over your nose. It induces a state of calm and even a bit of euphoria, all while you remain completely awake and in control.
Throughout your treatment, our team can adjust the nitrous oxide level to ensure you're comfortable. If you start to feel too drowsy or dizzy, we can lower the concentration. If you still feel anxious, we can increase it a bit. The benefit of Nitrous Oxide is that it specific to your dental needs in real time.
Once the dental work is complete, we turn off the nitrous oxide and let you breathe 100% oxygen for a few minutes. This flushes any remaining gas from your system. The sedative effects wear off almost immediately – within 5 to 10 minutes, you'll be back to your usual self, maybe even feeling surprisingly energetic or clear-headed.
Request an Appointment
Experience stress-free dental visits with nitrous oxide at Buffalo Run Dental. If you think you could benefit from a little extra relaxation during your next appointment, let us know. We are happy to offer nitrous oxide sedation in our Calgary clinic to make your dental treatments as comfortable and easy as possible.
Benefits of Nitrous Oxide Sedation
Fast-acting anxiety relief
You stay conscious and cooperative
Unlike deeper sedation methods, laughing gas keeps you awake. You can still respond to questions, follow instructions (like “turn your head” or “open wider”), and you’re aware of what’s going on – you just feel much more relaxed about it. This light level of sedation is often all that’s needed to take the edge off for mildly anxious patients or kids.
Adjustable & controllable
Our trained team can easily adjust the mix of nitrous oxide and oxygen to find the sweet spot where you’re comfortable. If at any point you want to stop the sedation, we simply turn off the gas, and within a few breaths, you’re back to normal. This level of control makes nitrous oxide extremely safe.
Minimal side effects & quick recovery
Nitrous oxide is very gentle. It doesn’t typically have after-effects – no “hangover,” no grogginess once it’s cleared out. That means you can drive yourself home or return to work or school immediately after your appointment (unlike other sedatives, which require recovery time). It’s also safe when appropriately administered and is routinely used for children in appropriate cases. The most common minor side effect is mild nausea for some people, but this is often mitigated by adjusting the dose and ensuring you haven’t eaten a large meal right beforehand.
Suitable for all ages
Laughing gas is one of the only sedation options available for pediatric patients. It’s a great way to help squirmy or anxious kids get through a filling or tooth extraction without distress. For adults, it can make an otherwise unpleasant procedure (such as a deep cleaning or extraction) much more tolerable.
Additional pain relief
Nitrous oxide has a mild analgesic (pain-reducing) effect. While we still use local anesthesia for pain control, the combination of relaxation and its analgesic effect can enhance overall comfort. Some patients require less numbing because they’re less tense or reactive to sensations.
What to Expect & Safety Information
Closely Monitored Throughout
During nitrous oxide sedation, we monitor you closely; complications are extremely rare. You’ll breathe normally on your own the entire time. One major advantage is that nitrous oxide does not significantly depress breathing or heart rate, as the doses used are light.
No Special Preparation Needed
If you choose laughing gas, you don’t need any special preparation. However, it’s best not to eat a heavy meal right before (to minimize any nausea). Just come in a bit anxious, and we’ll take care of the rest! After a few minutes of post-treatment oxygen breathing, you’re free to go about your day as usual.
Safe for Most Patients
It’s considered very safe for most people; however, we’ll review your medical history to ensure it’s appropriate (for example, it’s not recommended if you’re pregnant or have certain respiratory conditions).
Experience stress-free dental visits with nitrous oxide at Buffalo Run Dental. If you think you could benefit from a little extra relaxation during your next appointment, let us know. We are happy to offer nitrous oxide sedation in our Calgary clinic to make your dental treatments as comfortable and easy as possible. With laughing gas, you can sit back, relax, and even enjoy your time in the chair, knowing that your dental health is being cared for without anxiety.
