What was your experience with nitrous oxide/laughing gas at the dentist?

[Lactobuzzillus]

Today in dental assisting school we were learning about nitrous oxide sedation. A dental anesthesiologist came in to give us a lecture, then a demonstration. I volunteered to be the patient—I’d never had nitrous before, and I was curious about how it felt.

Usually, nitrous oxide makes the patient feel euphoric or relaxed. That wasn’t the case for me. It took the maximum safe dosage level for my brain to feel any changes—even then, the only difference was that I was less alert and it felt like the room was spinning.

It wasn’t a bad experience, but had I been given nitrous as a child, the claustrophobia and numbness would have scared me more than the procedure itself. That’s what happened to my sister—she had several extractions as a child, got anxious from the gas, and now feels apprehensive about going to the dentist.

She told me that a large percentage of people who don’t react well to nitrous oxide are neurodivergent. I’m not sure where she got that information, but I suppose neurodivergent people do have a tendency to feel things in unexpected ways. What do you think? If you’ve ever been under nitrous sedation, what was it like?

 

[Levitat0r]

They put me out like a light for my gall bladder, and they didn't even do the traditional countdown. I asked them to make sure I didn't wake up in the middle, and the lady sauntered right over and she was like "I'm very good at this job". So, part of her strategy was to ambush my IV bag and not even say "goodnight". I stared at the ceiling wondering whether I was going to pass out even though I didn't feel anything yet, and then the ceiling abruptly changed and started rolling by, and I realized I was done. True to form, I immediately started rambling at whatever unseen people were wheeling me down the hall. "Hey! We're done! I guess it must have gone well, huh?" They figured I wouldn't remember what I was doing and totally ignored me. I also couldn't find them, because I was staring at the ceiling and zonked out of my mind.

 

[Outdated]

I haven't had nitrous since I was in my 20s. It's called giggle gas for good reason. The dentist said he'd never seen anyone laugh through the cavitron before, but it tickled.

I had a very high metabolism when I was young, the only 2 times I've been under a general anaesthetic I woke up much earlier than anyone expected.

 

[DaisyRose]

I cannot have laughing gas because it will give me a migraine. I had my first drilling as a kid, and I got laughing gas and I had a migraine for five days. It was so painful and made me very nauseous. I’ll take needles then do that again. I got laughing gas as a kid because I was scared of needles back then.

 

[Levitat0r]

Today in dental assisting school we were learning about nitrous oxide sedation. A dental anesthesiologist came in to give us a lecture, then a demonstration. I volunteered to be the patient—I’d never had nitrous before, and I was curious about how it felt.

Usually, nitrous oxide makes the patient feel euphoric or relaxed. That wasn’t the case for me. It took the maximum safe dosage level for my brain to feel any changes—even then, the only difference was that I was less alert and it felt like the room was spinning.

It wasn’t a bad experience, but had I been given nitrous as a child, the claustrophobia and numbness would have scared me more than the procedure itself. That’s what happened to my sister—she had several extractions as a child, got anxious from the gas, and now feels apprehensive about going to the dentist.

She told me that a large percentage of people who don’t react well to nitrous oxide are neurodivergent. I’m not sure where she got that information, but I suppose neurodivergent people do have a tendency to feel things in unexpected ways. What do you think? If you’ve ever been under nitrous sedation, what was it like?

I always wondered why other people got nitrous, but I never once have gotten it at the dentists', and I guess now I know why. I'm sure they were like "Oh... you're one of them... novocaine it is...". And that's fine. I just wish people would explain stuff instead of treating you different and not saying anything.

I was also a victim of medical abuse at one point, and that doctor was interested in my enormously flat feet. Don't let anybody tell you you're not subject to massive discrimination sometimes.

 

[Cryptid]

Nitrous Oxide smells like wet wool socks to me. Once I got used to that bit of unpleasantness, the lethargy and semi-conscious feeling set in and the pain was almost like a distant sensation.

 

[GrownupGirl]

I was never given gas at the dentist, even though I'd be so terrified as a young child the hygienist once told my mother she wanted to strap me to the chair, which made my mom really mad at her. Also my mom once told me when she was a kid the dentist didn't use *any* anesthetic, and she'd pass out from the horrible pain. This was probably back in the 1950s or 60s, but it was in Cape Breton so it may as well been the 1800s.

A few years ago the dentist didn't give me enough numbing before drilling my teeth, and I didn't say anything but my face must have said everything because he stopped and asked if I wanted more numbing and I said yes. But that incident has made my anxiety and fear at the dentist relapse and the last few visits when I needed a cavity filled I suffered anxiety attacks.

Going to the dentist is a nightmare. Everything from the weird stench to the blinding light, to the drilling and filling. When the chair is leaned back I feel the blood leaving my feet and rushing to my head. Pure torture. I also hate it when they squirt lukewarm water in my mouth because years ago I heard on TV that dentists recycle the same water that they've squirted in other patients' mouths and it's full of horrible bacteria and you'd think they'd have everything sterilized, but apparently not.

 

[Levitat0r]

I was never given gas at the dentist, even though I'd be so terrified as a young child the hygienist once told my mother she wanted to strap me to the chair, which made my mom really mad at her. Also my mom once told me when she was a kid the dentist didn't use *any* anesthetic, and she'd pass out from the horrible pain. This was probably back in the 1950s or 60s, but it was in Cape Breton so it may as well been the 1800s.

A few years ago the dentist didn't give me enough numbing before drilling my teeth, and I didn't say anything but my face must have said everything because he stopped and asked if I wanted more numbing and I said yes. But that incident has made my anxiety and fear at the dentist relapse and the last few visits when I needed a cavity filled I suffered anxiety attacks.

Going to the dentist is a nightmare. Everything from the weird stench to the blinding light, to the drilling and filling. When the chair is leaned back I feel the blood leaving my feet and rushing to my head. Pure torture. I also hate it when they squirt lukewarm water in my mouth because years ago I heard on TV that dentists recycle the same water that they've squirted in other patients' mouths and it's full of horrible bacteria and you'd think they'd have everything sterilized, but apparently not.

Oh, my God,that can't be right. Do you think they would reuse the same water full of blood, and plaque chunks, and tooth dust, with its vaguely dirt-like smell? I guess they could filter the taste and particles out of it so that you don't know you're being rinsed with dentistry soup, but no. Let's go with no.

 

[Levitat0r]

On the bright side, I've discovered that my body doesn't know how to feel deep injuries. I skipped narcotics both for my wisdom teeth and for my gall bladder. I could never figure out where my gall bladder was, because I didn't feel a thing there once it was fixed. Try to think of me more like... uh... The Rock and less like a soulless autist. I'm manly, not subhuman. Make a mental note.

 

[TBRS1]

When I get the gas, I like watching everything fall apart, and listening to the imaginary Whaa! Whaa! Whaa! sound.

I guess this is an extreme reaction because other people don't describe the experience like that.

 

[Judge]

The good news- Getting a dose of NO2 that works for a patient. I love it.

The bad news- No way for a dentist to tell such a thing. And some use it so sparingly it's worthless.

Even when an endodontist insufficiently adds it as a $100 surcharge while a dentist does so for $20.

 

[not_an_orange_cat]

I was under nitrous oxide when I had my wisdom teeth removed.

I didn't really "feel" any different. They used Novocain to numb the site, and the surgeon was very precise with the injection and efficient. I think what it did was allow me to be relaxed enough to sit through the procedure without complaint - kind of floaty, but not very different from my normal state when I'm relaxed.

 

[Judge]

I was under nitrous oxide when I had my wisdom teeth removed.

I didn't really "feel" any different. They used Novocain to numb the site, and the surgeon was very precise with the injection and efficient. I think what it did was allow me to be relaxed enough to sit through the procedure without complaint - kind of floaty, but not very different from my normal state when I'm relaxed.

True, it's not applied as any kind of pain-killer. Novocaine and Lidocaine are the real pain-killers applied through a hypodermic.

NO2 is all about smoke and mirrors. A distraction through "skewing your senses".

The thing is though, local anesthetics like Lidocaine address the physical area of pain, but don't address my psyche while it's all happening. That's where NO2 comes in, to cause me to relax mentally and emotionally. That's the only point where I can truly relax in any dental chair.

 

[not_an_orange_cat]

True, it's not applied as any kind of pain-killer. Novocaine and Lidocaine are the real pain-killers applied through a hypodermic.

NO2 is all about smoke and mirrors. A distraction through "skewing your senses".

The thing is though, local anesthetics like Lidocaine address the physical area of pain, but don't address my psyche while it's all happening. That's where NO2 comes in, to cause me to relax mentally and emotionally. That's the only point where I can truly relax in any dental chair.

Yes - my understanding was that it is meant to deal with anxiety over the procedure and to keep a patient calm. It is not technically necessary, especially if a patient has an adverse reaction to it.

I remember when they gave me the nitrous oxide, they checked in with me several times to make sure I felt okay, and even then, waited another 15 minutes before starting the procedure. If I had an adverse reaction, they would have caught it.

 

[Princess Viola]

I have no idea if I was under nitrous oxide when I got my wisdom tooth pulled, I know they had to have given me something more than just a local anesthetic because I distinctly remember smelling something a bit sweet, like marshmallows, and being aware I was at the dentist but not aware that anything was happening and then it was done and I was like 'Wait you're done?'

 

[GrownupGirl]

Oh, my God,that can't be right. Do you think they would reuse the same water full of blood, and plaque chunks, and tooth dust, with its vaguely dirt-like smell? I guess they could filter the taste and particles out of it so that you don't know you're being rinsed with dentistry soup, but no. Let's go with no.

I think that what they meant is that they don't change the water they use in the machine thingamabob, they just let the water sit in there and stagnate. Which is still horrible.