Laughing gas saved my sanity during my root canal

Dental roulette, basically...

That’s honestly the best way to put it. I’ve had days where I’m convinced my pain tolerance is superhuman, then the next visit I’m gripping the armrests like I’m on a rollercoaster. It’s wild how much your mood or even just how much sleep you got can change everything.

Nitrous has been a total game-changer for me, but I get what you mean about the “loopy” feeling after. Sometimes I’m totally fine, other times I feel like I just stepped off a merry-go-round. But for those longer appointments, I’d rather deal with a little weirdness after than spend two hours tense and miserable.

It’s weirdly reassuring to know I’m not the only one who can’t predict how things will go. Makes me feel less dramatic when I need a little extra help to get through a session.

- 100% relate to the unpredictability. I’ve had fillings where I barely noticed anything, then a simple cleaning left me sweating buckets. It’s wild how much your body and brain can flip the script.

- Nitrous is honestly a lifesaver for me too. I get that weird floaty feeling sometimes, but I’d rather have that than the full-on anxiety spiral. The trade-off is totally worth it, especially for longer stuff.

- You’re not being dramatic at all - dental work is just a weird mix of physical and mental challenge. I used to feel embarrassed asking for extra numbing or gas, but now I figure whatever gets me through it is fair game.

- Sleep, stress, even what you ate that day... it all seems to matter more than people think. Last time I went in after a rough night and wow, everything felt twice as intense.

- Glad to hear I’m not the only one who has no idea how it’ll go until I’m in the chair. Makes me feel less like I’m overreacting when I need a little help.

Glad to hear I’m not the only one who has no idea how it’ll go until I’m in the chair.

Seriously, that’s me every time. I’m about to have my first filling and my nerves are all over the place. Reading these makes me feel less like a total wimp. If nitrous can make it less scary, I’m all for it.

Seriously, that’s me every time. I’m about to have my first filling and my nerves are all over the place.

I totally get this. I was a jittery mess before my first filling, and even now with braces, I still get anxious before every adjustment. Nitrous helped a bit, but honestly, I was still tense until it kicked in. Did anyone else feel kind of weird when the mask went on? Like, not bad, just... floaty? Also, does it wear off fast for everyone or am I just extra sensitive?

I get what you mean about the mask - when they put it on me, it felt like I was breathing in clouds or something. That floaty feeling hit pretty quick, but I still noticed my heart was pounding for a bit before I actually relaxed. For me, the nitrous wore off super fast once they switched it to oxygen. I was back to normal by the time I sat up. I’ve heard some people feel weird longer though, so maybe it just depends on how your body handles it. Either way, you’re definitely not alone in feeling anxious or a little out of it.

I’ve heard some people feel weird longer though, so maybe it just depends on how your body handles it. Either way, you’re definitely not alone in feeling anxious or a little out of it.

That “breathing in clouds” feeling is a pretty common description. Nitrous oxide acts fast and leaves the system quickly, which is why you felt back to normal so soon after they switched you to oxygen. Some people do feel lingering effects, but that’s usually short-lived. The heart pounding is just your body’s natural response to anxiety and the initial rush - happens to a lot of folks, honestly. If it ever feels overwhelming, sometimes adjusting the flow or taking slower breaths can help.

That cloud-breathing thing is spot on - first time I had nitrous, I remember thinking, “Is this what floating on a marshmallow feels like?” Honestly, I get the heart pounding too, especially when they first put the mask on. It’s like my body can’t decide if it’s excited or just plain nervous.

One thing I noticed after a few rounds of dental work is that how long you feel “off” really does change each time. Sometimes I’m back to normal before I leave the chair, other times I feel like I’m walking through fog for an hour or so. My dentist said some folks metabolize it quicker than others, and age might have something to do with it too (lucky us).

If you ever feel too buzzy or anxious, waving your hand and asking them to lower the flow is totally fair game. I did that once - no shame in wanting to keep your feet on the ground, even if your head’s in the clouds.

Sometimes I’m back to normal before I leave the chair, other times I feel like I’m walking through fog for an hour or so.

I’ve noticed that too - one visit I felt totally clear right away, but another time it lingered and I had to sit in my car for a while before driving. For me, eating beforehand seemed to make a difference. Anyone else find that?

- Had the same thing happen - sometimes I’m good to go right after, other times I feel like my brain’s still buffering.
- Didn’t notice much difference with eating beforehand, but I swear if I’m running on empty, the fog seems heavier.
- Once I tried to check my phone after and couldn’t even remember my unlock code... so yeah, definitely unpredictable.
- Guess it’s just another mystery of the dental universe.

- Totally relate to the brain fog after laughing gas... sometimes I’m like, “Cool, I’m back!” and other times I just sit there, staring at my shoes, wondering if I even own shoes.
- Food or no food, it’s a toss-up for me too.
- At least we survived the root canal - silver lining?

sometimes I’m like, “Cool, I’m back!” and other times I just sit there, staring at my shoes, wondering if I even own shoes.

That made me laugh - totally get it. For me, the fog usually lifts fast, but once I was so spaced out I left the office without my bag. The food thing is interesting too. I’ve noticed if I eat a light snack beforehand, the fog seems milder, but maybe that’s just in my head. Did anyone’s dentist explain why some people feel more out of it than others? I’ve heard hydration can play a role, but I’m not sure how much.

Funny, I’ve actually seen people react really differently to laughing gas - even with the same dose. Hydration does matter, but honestly, your metabolism and anxiety level play a bigger role than most folks realize. Some folks barely feel loopy, others are out of it for an hour. I usually tell people to eat a little something beforehand, but not a big meal. Has anyone noticed if caffeine makes a difference for them? I’ve heard mixed things.

I’ve had laughing gas a few times now, and I’ve noticed caffeine makes me more jittery, not less anxious. I try to skip my morning coffee if I know I’m getting nitrous. Didn’t make a huge difference with pain, just felt less relaxed.

Didn’t make a huge difference with pain, just felt less relaxed.

Funny, I had the opposite reaction. Nitrous didn’t really numb the pain for me either, but it made me care way less about what was happening. Honestly, I’d take that over feeling every little thing tense up. Skipping coffee helped my nerves, but the gas still gave me that floaty “whatever” vibe I needed. Maybe it’s all in our heads, but hey, whatever works, right?

Yeah, I’ve noticed patients react really differently to nitrous. Some folks get super giggly or spaced out, others just feel a bit lighter, and a few barely notice anything at all. It’s not really meant to block pain (that’s what the local anesthetic is for), but it can definitely take the edge off anxiety. I’ve even had people say it made the whole thing feel like a weird dream. Maybe there’s a psychological piece to it, but honestly, whatever helps make the chair less scary is a win in my book.

I read all these stories about people laughing or feeling loopy, but honestly, my main worry is the anxiety part. I’d rather feel a bit weird than have a full-blown panic attack in the chair. I know nitrous isn’t supposed to numb pain, but does it ever actually make people less aware of the whole procedure? Like, do you remember everything clearly afterwards, or does it kind of blur out? That’s the part that makes me nervous - losing control or not knowing what happened.

I get where you’re coming from - losing control is a big fear for me too. When I had nitrous for a filling, I didn’t black out or anything, but things felt kind of distant. I still knew what was happening and could answer questions, but the anxiety was dialed way down. Afterward, I remembered everything, just in a less intense way. It’s not like being totally out of it, more like watching the procedure from a step back.

That’s exactly how it felt for me - like I was still there, but everything was just a little fuzzier and less stressful. I get nervous about being “out of it” too, but nitrous didn’t make me feel out of control, just more relaxed. Did your insurance cover the laughing gas? Mine didn’t, so I had to pay about $50 extra for it. Honestly, totally worth it for the peace of mind, but it made me wonder if there are cheaper options that work as well.

I’ve heard some people just use numbing gel or local anesthetic and skip the gas altogether. Not sure I’d be brave enough for that with a root canal though... Fillings maybe, but not the big stuff. Did you notice any weird side effects after? I felt a little lightheaded for maybe ten minutes, but nothing major. Curious if that’s common or if I just needed more snacks afterward.

I hear you on the insurance thing - mine didn’t cover nitrous either, and I was honestly annoyed at first. But for me, it was worth the price just to skip the panic. I’ve tried just local anesthetic for a deep filling once and honestly, it was fine, but a root canal feels like a whole different ballgame. As for side effects, I only had a bit of tingling in my hands for a few minutes after. Do you think dentists should be more upfront about these extra costs before you’re in the chair? Sometimes it feels like surprise fees pop up at the worst time.

That surprise fee thing gets me every time. I had a similar experience - my dentist offered nitrous right before the procedure, but didn’t mention it wasn’t covered until I was checking out. I get that it’s optional, but when you’re already nervous, it’s hard to say no on the spot. Honestly, I’d rather know up front, even if it means a longer chat before things start. The tingling hands thing happened to me too, but it wore off fast. Nitrous made a huge difference for my nerves, though, so I’d probably pay for it again... just wish I could budget for it ahead of time.