If you or your child feel nervous about dental visits but don't need deep sedation, nitrous oxide—commonly called laughing gas—offers the perfect solution. At Dental Sedation Ottawa, we use this time-tested sedation method to help thousands of patients each year feel calm and comfortable during dental procedures, with effects that wear off completely within minutes of your appointment ending.
Nitrous oxide is a colorless, slightly sweet-smelling gas that creates a pleasant sense of relaxation and well-being when you breathe it in. Discovered in the late 1700s and used in dentistry since the 1840s, laughing gas is the safest and most widely used sedation method in dental care today—with millions of patients experiencing its benefits every year.
Think of nitrous oxide as a gentle comfort blanket for your mind. You stay fully awake, aware, and able to respond to your dentist's instructions. You can hear everything happening around you and feel sensations, but you simply don't care as much about what's happening. Many patients describe feeling floaty, dreamy, or like they're wrapped in a warm, cozy feeling. Some people do giggle or smile—which is how it earned the nickname "laughing gas."
The beauty of nitrous oxide lies in its quick action and reversibility. Within 2-3 minutes of breathing the gas, you'll feel its calming effects. When we turn off the gas at the end of your procedure, those effects disappear just as quickly—usually within 3-5 minutes—leaving you completely clear-headed and able to drive yourself home or return to work.
At our Ottawa dental clinic, nitrous oxide represents the first level in our complete spectrum of sedation options. For patients with mild to moderate anxiety, or children needing simple procedures, laughing gas provides exactly the right amount of comfort without the deeper sedation and recovery time of other methods.
Think nitrous oxide might be right for you? Let's discuss your options.
For severe dental phobia, complex surgical procedures, or extensive treatment needs, we offer additional options:
Medication taken before appointment creates deeper relaxation and drowsiness.
Explore oral sedation →Continuously adjustable sedation with deeper relaxation or light sleep.
Discover IV sedation →Complete unconsciousness administered by board-certified medical anesthesiologists (Dr. Hesham Talab, MD MSc PhD FRCPC FASE and Dr. Asad Mirghassemi, MD MSc FRCPC).
Learn about general anesthesia →We'll help you choose the sedation level that matches your anxiety, your procedure, and your personal preferences.
Nitrous oxide works by affecting neurotransmitters in your brain—the chemical messengers that control anxiety, pain perception, and mood. When you breathe the gas, it quickly enters your bloodstream through your lungs and reaches your brain within 2-3 minutes.
The gas enhances calming neurotransmitters (like GABA) while reducing anxiety-related chemicals. This creates a pleasant, relaxed state where you remain conscious but feel less worried about what's happening. Your pain perception decreases slightly, though we still use local anesthetic to numb specific areas for complete comfort.
Unlike other sedatives, nitrous oxide doesn't get metabolized (broken down) by your liver or kidneys. You breathe it in, it enters your blood and provides its effects, then you breathe it out completely unchanged. This is why it works so quickly and wears off so rapidly—nothing needs to be processed and eliminated by your body.
The gas is mixed with pure oxygen, so you're actually breathing a higher concentration of oxygen than normal room air. This makes nitrous oxide extremely safe, even for young children and patients with most medical conditions.
There's minimal preparation needed. You can eat normally beforehand (though we suggest avoiding heavy meals within 2-3 hours of your appointment). No fasting is required unless we're combining nitrous with other sedation methods. You can drive yourself to and from your appointment, and you won't need anyone to accompany you.
When you arrive, we'll explain exactly what will happen. We place a small, comfortable mask over your nose—it comes in various sizes for children and adults, and some even have pleasant scents like bubble gum or cherry for kids.
You'll breathe normally through your nose while we gradually adjust the nitrous oxide level. Within 2-3 minutes, you'll notice the effects: a pleasant, warm, tingling sensation might start in your fingers and toes. You might feel lighter, like you're floating. Some people feel their arms or legs get heavy and relaxed. Colors might seem brighter, sounds might seem softer and distant. Many patients describe it as feeling like they've had a glass of wine—relaxed and calm, but still in control.
We can adjust the level throughout your procedure. If you need more relaxation, we increase it slightly. If you feel too lightheaded, we decrease it. You can communicate with us the entire time—though your voice might sound different to you, and you might find yourself giggling or smiling.
Most patients under nitrous oxide report that time seems to pass quickly. A 45-minute procedure might feel like 15 minutes. You'll remain aware of what's happening but feel detached from any anxiety or worry about it.
When your dental work is complete, we turn off the nitrous oxide and give you 100% pure oxygen to breathe for 5 minutes. This helps clear any remaining gas from your system. Within 3-5 minutes, you'll feel completely normal again—no grogginess, no lingering drowsiness, no impairment whatsoever.
You can drive yourself home immediately, return to work or school, and resume all normal activities. There's no recovery period needed.
Time Required: The actual gas administration adds only about 10 minutes total to your appointment (5 minutes to start effects, 5 minutes of oxygen at the end).
Ready to experience relaxed dentistry?
Nitrous oxide is remarkably safe for patients of all ages:
Laughing gas is excellent for pediatric dentistry. Kids as young as 3-4 years old can use it successfully. It helps nervous children sit still, reduces their awareness of dental instruments, and creates positive dental experiences. Many children who start with nitrous oxide eventually become comfortable enough that they don't need any sedation.
Perfect for nervous adult patients who want relaxation without losing consciousness or recovery time. Popular for routine procedures and for patients with busy schedules.
Safe for older patients, including those with most medical conditions. The increased oxygen concentration is actually beneficial for many senior patients.
Generally avoided during first trimester, but can be used safely during second and third trimesters when medically necessary. We'll consult with your obstetrician.
Most patients can safely use nitrous oxide. The rare exceptions include:
We'll review your complete medical history to ensure nitrous oxide is safe for you.
Ready to learn more? Schedule a consultation today.
Compared to other sedation methods, nitrous oxide offers unique advantages:
Per appointment, depending on procedure duration
Nitrous oxide sedation typically costs starting at $75-150 per appointment, depending on the duration of your procedure. This represents excellent value compared to other sedation methods, especially considering you need no recovery time and can drive yourself.
Most dental insurance plans cover nitrous oxide at 50-80% when used for medically necessary procedures or documented dental anxiety. Many plans cover it fully for children's procedures. We provide direct billing to major insurers and accept the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP).
When you consider that nitrous oxide helps you receive needed dental care you might otherwise avoid—preventing more expensive problems later—it's an investment in both your immediate comfort and long-term oral health.
50-80% when medically necessary
We bill major insurers directly
Qualifying patients welcome
Questions about cost or coverage? We're happy to provide a detailed estimate.
Our patients consistently rate us 5 stars for gentle, anxiety-free care.
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View All Reviews on GoogleDentist Referrals Welcome: We collaborate with referring dentists throughout Ottawa and Eastern Ontario for dental sedation cases.
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