Comfort options
Nitrous oxide (laughing gas) in North York
Light sedation you breathe through a small nose mask. You stay awake, and it wears off quickly.
Nitrous oxide
At our studio on Sheppard Avenue East, near Yonge and Sheppard, we offer nitrous oxide, often called laughing gas, as light sedation during treatment. We offer nitrous oxide to adults and to children. At the moment, nitrous oxide is the only sedation we offer; we do not offer IV sedation or general anaesthesia.
Laughing gas
What nitrous oxide is
Nitrous oxide is a sedative gas mixed with oxygen. You breathe it through a small mask over your nose.1 It is not meant to put you to sleep: you stay awake, and you can hear and respond to the dentist the whole time.1
In Ontario, nitrous oxide counts as minimal sedation, and dentists must be authorized by the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario (RCDSO) to provide any level of sedation.2
How it feels
You may feel light-headed, tingly, or heavy in your arms and legs, and generally calmer.1 Effects usually start within a few minutes and wear off soon after the mask is removed.1 Nitrous oxide does not replace freezing: the dentist still numbs the tooth with local anaesthetic for treatments that need it.
Who it helps
Who it's for
- People who would like extra support during dental treatment
- People with a strong gag reflex, or who find it hard to sit through longer appointments
- Anyone who would like a little extra support for a specific procedure, such as a filling, root canal or extraction
- Children, when the dentist agrees it suits them. See kids' dentistry.
Health history
Who may need to avoid it
Before using nitrous oxide, we review your health history. Tell us if you:3
- Are pregnant, especially in the first trimester
- Have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or another lung condition
- Have a blocked nose from a cold, sinusitis or allergies (the gas is breathed through the nose)
- Have had recent ear problems or ear, nose or throat surgery
- Are being treated with the medication bleomycin
- Have an untreated vitamin B12 deficiency
This list comes from a guideline for children; the dentist decides with you whether nitrous oxide is suitable.3
Step by step
What to expect
Before your visit
We review your health history. You may be asked not to eat or drink for two hours beforehand.4
Starting
The nose mask is placed and the gas is turned on gradually, while you breathe normally.
During treatment
You stay awake and able to talk with us. The dentist and an assistant stay in the room with you the whole time.4
Going home
Under RCDSO standards, nitrous oxide is the only form of sedation after which the dentist may decide you can leave on your own, and only once you have fully recovered. If any effects remain, a responsible adult must go with you.4
Timing
How long it takes
Nitrous oxide adds only a few minutes to your appointment: time to start the gas, and about five minutes of oxygen at the end.5 The length of the visit depends on the treatment itself.
More options
Other ways we can help
Nitrous oxide is one option. Many patients also find it helps to:
- Tell us at booking if you'd like more time
- Agree on a hand signal to pause at any point
- Have each step explained before it happens
- Start with a simple visit, such as a check-up and cleaning, before any treatment
Good to know
Limitations
Nitrous oxide is light sedation. It does not put you to sleep, and we do not offer IV sedation at the moment.
Fees
Cost and insurance
- Nitrous oxide has a separate fee, set according to the Ontario Dental Association (ODA) fee guide and never above it. We tell you the fee before treatment.
- The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) covers sedation, including nitrous oxide. Some sedation needs preauthorization from CDCP first, so tell us early if you have CDCP.6 For covered care, you pay only your CDCP co-payment, or nothing if CDCP covers 100% of your care. We never charge the difference between the CDCP and ODA fee guides.
- Private plan coverage varies; we bill your insurer directly. See insurance, direct billing and CDCP.
Aftercare
Aftercare
Questions
When to call us
Call (647) 474-7980 if you feel unwell after your visit, or if you have questions about whether nitrous oxide suits you before booking.
Book an appointment.
Mention that you would like to discuss nitrous oxide. New to seesmile? Start with our new-patient visit.
A consultation is required to determine whether nitrous oxide is suitable for you.
Questions
Questions, answered.
References
Sources
Related pages: Cleanings and check-ups · Root canal · Emergency visits · About seesmile · Wisdom teeth · Family dentistry
- American Dental Association, MouthHealthy. Nitrous oxide (laughing gas). https://www.mouthhealthy.org/all-topics-a-z/nitrous-oxide
- Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario. Sedation and anesthesia. https://www.rcdso.org/permits-and-renewals/sedation-and-anesthesia
- American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Use of nitrous oxide for pediatric dental patients (revised 2023). https://www.aapd.org/globalassets/media/policies_guidelines/bp_useofnitrous.pdf
- Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario. Standard of practice: use of sedation and general anesthesia in dental practice (November 2018). https://cdn.agilitycms.com/rcdso/pdf/standards-of-practice/RCDSO_5424_Standard_of_Practice__Use_of_Sedation_and_General_Anesthesia_V2.pdf
- American Dental Association. Oral health topics: nitrous oxide (updated 2023). https://www.ada.org/resources/ada-library/oral-health-topics/nitrous-oxide
- Government of Canada. Canadian Dental Care Plan: services covered. https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/dental/dental-care-plan/coverage.html