Nitrous Oxide Therapy uses nitrous oxide (N₂O), commonly known as laughing gas or happy gas, to provide fast-acting pain relief and anxiety reduction in medical and dental settings. First discovered in 1793 by the English scientist Joseph Priestley, nitrous oxide has been used safely for more than 150 years.
Today, clinicians widely use nitrous oxide in both dental and medical applications. [1] In clinical practice, Nitrous Oxide Therapy relies on this gas to support patient comfort and anxiety reduction during procedures. Nitrous oxide is a small inorganic chemical molecule and may also be known as dinitrogen oxide or dinitrogen monoxide. It is a colorless and nonflammable gas with a slightly sweet odor. [2] However, nitrous oxide also has some illicit recreational uses and abuse potential. In addition, it is widely used in several nonmedical industries. Some of the nonmedical uses of nitrous oxide include the semiconductor industry, car racing, and food processing. [1]
Clinicians administer nitrous oxide by inhalation; the lungs absorb it by diffusion and the body eliminates it through respiration. The elimination half-life of nitrous oxide is approximately 5 minutes. [3] It is excreted essentially unchanged (ie, nonmetabolized) via the lungs; less than 0.004% is actually metabolized in humans.
In clinical practice, Nitrous Oxide Therapy helps support pain management and anxiety control. The therapy uses a combination of oxygen and nitrous oxide that patients inhale to provide fast-acting pain relief, increase comfort, and help calm anxiety. Nitrous oxide does not act as general anesthesia and does not put patients to sleep. Instead, it works in conjunction with local anesthetic to minimize pain or discomfort and reduce stress.
How Does Nitrous Oxide Work?
Nitrous oxide, commonly known as “laughing gas,” works as a fast-acting mild sedative that helps patients feel relaxed during procedures. Medical professionals have used nitrous oxide for many years. Today, modern Nitrous Oxide Therapy systems add new advantages, including self-administered delivery that allows patients to control their own comfort level. Additionally, these systems include advanced delivery technology and built-in safety mechanisms.
Benefits of Nitrous Oxide Therapy:
- Patient controlled
- No needles
- Non-narcotic
- Fast-acting
- Leaves the system quickly so you can resume your routine
- Patients are able to drive themselves home soon after treatment (with the exception of surgeries)