The Role of Nitrous Oxide in Reducing Fear and Anxiety in Young Patients
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Abstract
Dental anxiety is a common phenomenon among children and can have significant implications for their overall oral health and well-being. A child with dental anxiety is said to be more difficult to treat, and he/she is also suggested to have a greater chance of dental caries or growth disorders later in life. Among the various dental procedures that induce anxiety in pediatric patients, the Inferior Alveolar Nerve Block (IANB) stands out as the most feared among all due to the anticipated pain and discomfort. This block has a very low failure rate, but if not performed accurately, it leads to multiple attempts or facial nerve palsy. Therefore, it is common to see the situation where an anxious child has to undergo this procedure, and it is very vital to manage anxiety in children undergoing it. In the dental office, many techniques can be used to manage anxiety in pediatric patients. Among them, nitrous oxide sedation is a well-established sedation technique in dentistry. It is also known as laughing gas and has a long record of safety in children, both medically and dentally. Nitrous oxide has anxiolytic, analgesic, and amnesic properties and can be used to maintain a reasonable level of sedation. It can also be delivered easily and effectively using the equipment currently available in most dental offices. Due to all the above advantages, it is widely used in pediatric dentistry to manage anxiety and discomfort during dental procedures.