For most dental professionals, nitrous oxide is an essential tool used in the treatment of their patients. Learn more about the advantages of mobile dental nitrous oxide and why you might want to consider adding it to your practice.
The History of Nitrous Oxide
Nitrous oxide (N2O) was first discovered in 1772 by chemist and inventor Humphrey Davy. It is a simple gas which is capable of being breathed in. The benefit of this gas is found in its ability to kill pain while also inducing a pleasurable feeling. Nitrous oxide has no color or odor, and it doesn't irritate the patient or create unpleasant side effects. Because it’s so safe and effective, dental nitrous oxide is used by dentists all over the world on a daily basis.
Nitrous oxide can only be used for short periods of time. This is due to the fact that the lack of oxygen in pure N2O can lead to unconsciousness. However, if nitrous oxide is mixed with oxygen, it can be used safely for longer periods. The “laughing gas” used in the majority of dental practices is a mixture of at least 30 percent oxygen, allowing dentists to administer it for longer sessions without creating risks for the patient.
The Benefits of Mobile Dental N2O
One of the most appealing features of nitrous oxide is how quickly it begins working. Dentists can use mobile dental nitrous oxide to give their patients a euphoric feeling within the first five minutes of breathing it in. This can help to make dental procedures less traumatic and painful.
Many patients, particularly children, have a fear of needles, but with mobile dental nitrous oxide, no injection is required. In cases where needles or intimidating tools are required to complete a procedure, administering nitrous oxide first can help the dentist to relax patients enough to be able to use needles or other dental implements.
Inhalation of dental nitrous oxide is very safe. It has very few side effects and the drugs used have no ill effects on organs such as the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys or brain.
Controlling Nitrous Oxide Levels
Nitrous oxide is one of the few sedation methods that allow for fast, simple adjustments. The sedative effect is easy to control by changing the amount of N2O being administered. The effects are almost instantaneous. The depth of sedation can be altered from moment to moment, allowing the person who administers the gas to increase or decrease the depth of sedation.
Other sedation techniques, such as IV methods or pills, have a specific fixed duration of action. If someone is administered pain pills for example, the effects will be present for a specific amount of time until the medication eventually wears off. Nitrous oxide, on the other hand, can be given for the exact amount of time that it is needed. There is no carryover or “hangover effect.” As soon as the person administering the sedation stops the supply of nitrous oxide, the gas is eliminated from the body within three to five minutes. This allows dental visits to be versatile and occur at all times throughout the day. The patient will not need to request someone to drive them home and they can return to school or work that very same day.
Dentists use mobile dental nitrous oxide for a wide array of procedures. Because nitrous oxide can be made mobile, dentists are not limited to purchasing nitrous oxide machines for locations within a dental operatory; they can rely on a select few mobile units to function throughout the practice.
Mobile dental nitrous oxide systems can be very versatile and weigh as little as 5 pounds. They are a vital component of any operatory. Certain companies, such as DuraPro Health, even include the flowmeter, mobile stand, yoke clock, gauges, supply hoses, regulators, tank wrench, standard inhaler, neoprene bag and breathing tube with the purchase of a mobile dental nitrous oxide system. Shop our supply of mobile nitrous systems to find the right fit for your practice.
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