Nitrous oxide sedation
Are you or your child being treated with nitrous oxide sedation? Or are you going to use nitrous oxide in your workplace?
This information page gives you a general overview of the subject of nitrous oxide sedation.
✔ Qualified Trainer
In addition to being a supplier and advisor, Grodenta is also a leading trainer for dentists and assistants in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany, in collaboration with the University of Amsterdam (ACTA).
✔ All-in service and maintenance
Our service includes annual maintenance, allowing you and your colleagues to work safely with our equipment at all times.
✔ Customized advice
Grodenta believes in service and advice tailored to your needs. Not standard applications, but solutions specifically tailored to your wishes and your practice space.
Nitrous oxide sedation in general
Here you will find answers to a wide range of questions and topics related to nitrous oxide sedation. Whether you want to know more about the applications, benefits, or the process itself, we offer you a comprehensive source of information. Discover how nitrous oxide sedation is a safe and effective method to reduce anxiety and increase comfort in various medical, dental, and cosmetic situations.
Below you will find a number of frequently asked questions.
- What is nitrous oxide sedation?
- How does nitrous oxide sedation work?
- When do you use nitrous oxide sedation?
- Benefits of nitrous oxide sedation
- Are there any side effects?
- For whom is nitrous oxide sedation suitable?
- Nitrous oxide sedation at the dentist
- Nitrous oxide sedation for cosmetic treatments
- Nitrous oxide sedation for medical treatments
- Is it covered by insurance?
What is nitrous oxide sedation?
Nitrous oxide sedation, also known as nitrous oxide anxiolysis, is an entirely safe and trusted method where the patient is sedated while remaining conscious throughout the procedure. The patient receives a mixture of oxygen and nitrous oxide through a nasal or full-face mask, inducing a calming and soothing effect. Because the patient remains conscious during sedation, they can respond to any instructions given. In addition to its calming effect, nitrous oxide sedation is also used to reduce the gag reflex, allowing medical, cosmetic, or dental procedures to be performed without stress.
How does nitrous oxide sedation work?
Before administering nitrous oxide, it's important to discuss all aspects of the treatment with your patient. This includes their health, any medications they are taking, the planned procedure, and the expected effects of nitrous oxide sedation. Additionally, the practical details of the procedure should be explained to ensure clarity for your patient.
During nitrous oxide sedation, a patient receives a mixture of oxygen and nitrous oxide through a nose or mouth mask. The oxygen concentration in this mixture is at least 50%. Then, the percentage of nitrous oxide in the mixture can be gradually increased by the clinician until the optimal percentage of nitrous oxide in relation to oxygen (or the optimal concentration of the mixture) is reached. At this optimal level, the patient will feel significantly calmer and more relaxed, while remaining conscious. Sedation only occurs when the nose or mouth mask is worn throughout the entire procedure. The sensation experienced by the patient is often described as the "champagne feeling": the patient feels pleasantly warm, relaxed, and somewhat "disconnected" due to the nitrous oxide. Tingling sensations may occur in the hands, legs, and lips. Additionally, the patient's perception of time is significantly reduced: lengthy procedures may feel like brief ones.
When do you use nitrous oxide sedation?
Nitrous oxide sedation has been used in dentistry since 1986. The use of nitrous oxide during dental procedures was officially approved by the Ministry of Health in the Netherlands at that time. In November 2016, the High Health Council in Belgium issued a report considering the use of nitrous oxide as beneficial. Nitrous oxide is utilized across various demographics and fields within healthcare: it aids children and adults with dental anxiety, individuals with intellectual disabilities, those with extreme gag reflexes, individuals with needle phobia (for vaccinations), individuals fearful of certain cosmetic/plastic procedures, and provides comfort during many routine medical procedures and treatments. Simple procedures within cosmetic/plastic surgery that are perceived as relatively painful are also highly suitable for nitrous oxide sedation to enhance comfort for both the patient and the practitioner.
Personal approach at Grodenta
At Grodenta, we believe in a personal approach. We tailor our services to your specific practice needs, from advice and delivery to training and service. Let us help you provide the best care.
Are there any side effects?
The administration of nitrous oxide is a safe and child-friendly procedure. The mixture of nitrous oxide with oxygen provides a safe euphoric state, allowing the patient to lose their concerns about the treatment. It is possible for the patient to experience euphoria or a laughing fit; however, as a practitioner, it is important to prevent this. Excessive laughter during sedation is a sign of over-sedation and can also lead to leakage in the mask. During the treatment, tingling sensations may be observed in the mouth or limbs.
Some patients may experience mild side effects such as dizziness, light-headedness, and nausea. These side effects disappear within minutes after adjusting the oxygen/nitrous oxide mixture. After the treatment, all nitrous oxide particles are flushed out of the patient's bloodstream to fully restore consciousness. No side effects are observable after the procedure.
Who is nitrous oxide sedation suitable for?
Nitrous oxide sedation can be applied to virtually any patient. Below are several specific cases where nitrous oxide sedation can be beneficially used:
• Children who are anxious or tense before a dental or other medical procedure;
• Children who have difficulty sitting still and are restless during a dental or other medical procedure;
• Individuals with fear of dental or other medical treatments;
• Individuals with heightened gag and gag reflexes;
• Individuals who need stress to be minimized;
• Individuals with intellectual and/or physical disabilities;
• Individuals for whom regular anesthesia is not applicable;
• Individuals who prefer a luxurious treatment with extra comfort.
How does it work at the dentist?
Within dentistry, only a double nose mask is used to ensure the safety of both the dentist and the patient. By separating the intake and exhaust in the mask, both waste and leakage are significantly reduced. The latex-free mask is comfortable and can remain in place throughout the entire treatment to prevent any leaks.
Gas extraction at the dentist is often managed through the dental suction devices in the treatment room. Grodenta also offers the option to provide a built-in suction pump with the nitrous oxide device. This suction pump can be directly connected to the ventilation shaft in the room.
What products does Grodenta offer for dentists?
All masks are available in various sizes. The
double nose mask
is available in child or adult sizes. These sizes also apply to the
breathing balloon. Grodenta offers the option to add fragrance to the mask using
anesthesia scent sticks, to make the treatment even more pleasant. To monitor the patient during a treatment, a pulse oximeter pro is used at all times.
Various variants are available in the webshop.
Request a demo Request a quote
Request a demo Request a quote
How does it work for cosmetic treatments?
Another specialization of Grodenta is nitrous oxide sedation for cosmetic/plastic surgical procedures. Laser hair removal, botox, fillers, liposuction, Ultherapy, Morpheus8 and many other treatments often result in mild or irritating pain, which can lead to a less pleasant experience. This also applies to invasive treatments where only local anesthesia is used. The use of nitrous oxide sedation increases the comfort of the patient. To meet the needs of your practice, the setup of our equipment is completely tailored to your practice.
What products does Grodenta offer for cosmetic treatments?
For cosmetic treatments, various delivery systems are used; a transparent light adhesive mask for the nose and a full-face mask for long, invasive treatments. The hose circuit system used for cosmetic treatments differs from the hose circuits for the dental industry. For cosmetic treatments, the medical full-face mask system is used.
How does nitrous oxide sedation work in medical treatments?
Grodenta, through years of experience and expertise, has developed the best applications for medical nitrous oxide sedation. This has resulted in, among other things, the Emergency Department, CBT, pediatric departments, and various birthing centers being equipped with custom-developed setups.
The focus within these departments is on reducing anxiety and stress, allowing both adults and children to have a more pleasant experience during their stay or treatment. The equipment operates entirely on gas pressure and can therefore be applied within seconds, making Grodenta's equipment a reliable and effective tool for many physicians.
The most common application in the medical industry is the full-face mask. With the built-in one-way valves and filters, the administration and suction of the gas are completely separated. This increases hygiene and reduces leakage and waste significantly.
What products does Grodenta offer for medical treatments?
For medical treatments, we have the medical full-face system as the administration circuit. The medical industry uses full-face masks. Additionally, Grodenta also offers a defibrillator in its range. It is mandatory to have a defibrillator when working with nitrous oxide sedation.
Is there any coverage from insurance?
Dental costs for the administration of nitrous oxide can be submitted to the health insurer under codes B10-B11-B12. In most cases, this is covered by the basic insurance. The practitioner submits an authorization to the health insurer for the reimbursement of the incurred costs. If there is, for example, anxiety and the patient has a referral from the general practitioner, this can facilitate the authorization process. However, the policy for reimbursement of nitrous oxide sedation varies per health insurer. This policy can be found on the website of the respective health insurers.
