Laughing gas saved my sanity during my root canal

That’s a pet peeve of mine too - nobody likes surprise charges, especially when you’re already bracing yourself for a root canal. I’ll admit, sometimes in the rush to keep things moving, we forget how much those “little extras” can add up. Nitrous is a game-changer for anxious patients, but yeah, it’s not always covered. I wish insurance companies saw it as essential for some folks, not just a luxury.

Honestly, I’d rather spend an extra two minutes explaining what’s covered (and what isn’t) than have someone feel blindsided at checkout. The tingling hands thing is super common with nitrous - totally normal and usually gone before you’re out the door. I’ve had patients say they’d skip the procedure altogether if they couldn’t have it, so you’re not alone there.

If it helps, don’t be shy about asking for a cost rundown before anything starts. It’s your mouth and your money - no shame in wanting to know both are taken care of.

Nitrous is a game-changer for anxious patients, but yeah, it’s not always covered. I wish insurance companies saw it as essential for some folks, not just a luxury.

Totally agree with this. It’s wild how something that can make or break the whole experience isn’t considered “essential” by insurers. I’m super analytical about costs and always ask for the full breakdown, but even then there are surprises sometimes. Nitrous made my last dental procedure bearable - I’d honestly pay out of pocket again if I had to. The tingling hands thing freaked me out at first, but knowing it’s normal helped a lot.

I’ve had a similar experience - nitrous really helped me get through a crown procedure last year. It’s strange how something so effective for anxiety isn’t just standard. I get why insurance companies draw the line somewhere, but honestly, for some of us it’s the difference between getting treatment or putting it off. That tingling in the hands threw me too, but my hygienist explained it and I settled in after a few minutes. Costs are always a guessing game... I wish they’d just be up front about it.

“It’s strange how something so effective for anxiety isn’t just standard.”

I get what you mean, but honestly, nitrous didn’t do much for me compared to oral sedation. I actually felt more in control with a pill than with the gas. Maybe it just depends on the person, but I wish there were more options up front. And yeah, the cost thing drives me nuts too - every office seems to have a different “policy.”

Yeah, the price differences are wild. I’ve had nitrous offered at one place for like $50, and another quoted me $150 for the same thing. Insurance never covers it either, which is frustrating. I actually preferred oral sedation too - felt more predictable, and I could plan for a ride home. Wish dentists would just lay out all the options up front instead of waiting for us to ask.

The price swings are honestly baffling.

Insurance never covers it either, which is frustrating.

I totally get the frustration around the costs and the lack of transparency. When I started my orthodontic treatment, I was surprised by how many “extras” weren’t mentioned until I was already in the chair - nitrous, retainers, even some x-rays. Nitrous oxide helped me a ton with anxiety, but it was never covered by insurance for me either. I agree, a clear breakdown of options and prices up front would make planning so much easier. It’s stressful enough without surprise charges popping up.

“Nitrous oxide helped me a ton with anxiety, but it was never covered by insurance for me either.”

I hear you - nitrous made a huge difference for my nerves too, but the bill was a shock. I’ve always wondered why insurance treats it like some sort of luxury add-on, when for a lot of people it’s the only way to get through the appointment without panicking. Did anyone here ever have luck getting their insurance to cover it, or is it always out-of-pocket?

It’s wild to me that nitrous is still seen as a “nice-to-have” when for some of us, it’s more like a necessity. I’ve argued with my insurance about it before, but they just wouldn’t budge - apparently, if you’re not a kid or having major surgery, it’s “optional.” Honestly, I’d rather pay out-of-pocket than skip it and have a panic attack in the chair. Has anyone run into dentists who just include it as part of their care, or is it always an extra charge where you are?

Honestly, I’d rather pay out-of-pocket than skip it and have a panic attack in the chair.

I feel you on this - dental anxiety is no joke. I had to get braces tightened a few months back and even for that, nitrous made a huge difference for my nerves. My ortho charges extra every single time, though. Never heard of it being included unless it’s a kid’s appointment. Does anyone’s insurance actually cover it for adults, or is that just wishful thinking?

My kid gets nitrous for fillings and our insurance covers most of it, but only because she’s under 12. For adults, I’ve never seen coverage - seems like you’re stuck paying out-of-pocket. Totally worth it for peace of mind, though. Dental anxiety is real.

I hear you on the insurance thing - it’s honestly so frustrating. When my dentist first suggested nitrous for a crown, I was surprised to learn it wasn’t covered for adults. I hesitated because of the extra cost, but after a few rough visits in the past, I figured my sanity was worth it. Dental anxiety is no joke. I’ve had panic attacks in the chair before, and it’s just not something you can “tough out” if you’re wired that way.

I ended up paying out-of-pocket for nitrous during my root canal last year. Not cheap, but the difference was night and day. I could actually sit through the whole thing without feeling like I was going to bolt out of the chair. It’s wild how much calmer I felt - almost like being in a dream, but still aware enough to follow instructions. I wish insurance companies would recognize that dental anxiety doesn’t just disappear when you hit 12. It almost feels backwards, honestly, since a lot of adults develop more anxiety after years of bad experiences.

The only thing that bugged me was how quickly the cost added up. Between the root canal and the nitrous, it was a hit to my wallet. But if I had to do it again, I’d still pay for it. Peace of mind is hard to put a price on. I just wish there were more affordable options for people who need it.

Curious if anyone’s found a workaround or a plan that actually covers this for adults? I’ve asked my dentist’s office a few times, but they just shrug and say it’s standard everywhere. Maybe there’s some secret out there I haven’t found yet...

I wish insurance companies would recognize that dental anxiety doesn’t just disappear when you hit 12. It almost feels backwards, honestly, since a lot of adults develop more anxiety after years of bad experiences.

This hits home for me. I’ve been dealing with dental anxiety since I was a kid, and honestly, it’s only gotten worse as I’ve gotten older. Nitrous is the only thing that’s let me get through cleanings without feeling like I’m going to crawl out of my skin. The cost is rough though - I always feel a bit resentful paying extra for something that feels so necessary.

I’ve looked into different plans too, but it really does seem “standard everywhere” that they won’t cover it for adults unless there’s some kind of medical diagnosis attached (like severe phobia). Even then, jumping through hoops with paperwork isn’t exactly stress-free either. One thing that helped a little was asking my dentist if they’d do a “flat fee” for nitrous if I needed it multiple times in a year - sometimes they’ll work with you if you ask.

It’s wild how much easier dental care is with a little help from laughing gas. Wish the system made it less of a luxury and more of an option for everyone who needs it.

I get where you’re coming from, but I gotta say - I never really found nitrous all that helpful for my anxiety. Maybe I’m just weird, but it made me feel floaty in a way I didn’t love. I actually started bringing headphones and blasting podcasts during cleanings instead. Not quite as fun as laughing gas, but at least my insurance can’t charge me for listening to true crime stories while someone pokes at my gums. Sometimes the low-tech hacks help more than we think…

I totally get what you mean about nitrous feeling weird. I’ve tried it a couple times and honestly, the “floaty” sensation just made me more aware of my own anxiety - like I was detached but still nervous, if that makes sense. Headphones are my go-to too, though sometimes I worry I’ll miss the hygienist asking me something important. Ever had that happen? Or do you just zone out and hope for the best?

Headphones are my go-to too, though sometimes I worry I’ll miss the hygienist asking me something important. Ever had that happen? Or do you just zone out and hope for the best?

I totally get nervous about that too. When my daughter had her filling, I kept pausing her music every few minutes just in case someone needed to talk to her. It’s honestly stressful trying to balance helping her relax and making sure she hears instructions. Do you ever just leave one earbud out? That’s what we tried last time, but then she complained it sounded weird.

Leaving one earbud out just makes me feel lopsided, honestly. I’ve tried it, but then I get distracted by the weird imbalance instead of relaxing. Last time, I just picked a really chill playlist and trusted the hygienist to tap me if she needed something. Hasn’t failed me yet... though I might’ve missed a joke or two.

Leaving one earbud out just makes me feel lopsided, honestly. I’ve tried it, but then I get distracted by the weird imbalance instead of relaxing.

That lopsided feeling hits me too - it's like my brain can't settle down unless both ears are covered. Have you ever tried bone conduction headphones? They don’t block your ears at all, so you can hear music and still catch what the hygienist says. Might be a good workaround if earbuds just aren’t cutting it. Curious if anyone else has found a good balance between zoning out and staying aware during dental stuff...

- That weird one-ear thing totally messes with my head too. It’s like my brain is waiting for the other shoe to drop - except it’s just an earbud.
- Tried bone conduction once while jogging, but I kept getting distracted by my own footsteps… not sure it’d help me chill in the dentist chair, but at least you don’t miss your name being called.
- Honestly, I just stick with both earbuds and crank up the volume a bit. Not the safest, but better than hearing the drill.
- Laughing gas + noise-cancelling headphones is my personal recipe for surviving dental work. Might not be the healthiest combo, but hey, it gets me through.

We just went through this with my kid last month, and honestly, I was nervous about the whole headphone thing. Here’s what helped: first, we made sure the dentist was okay with headphones (some aren’t), then we picked music that was familiar and calming. I kept the volume low enough so she could still hear if someone talked to her. Laughing gas was offered, but I was a bit hesitant, so we skipped it - maybe I’m just overcautious. The step-by-step really helped her feel in control. Not perfect, but better than pure panic.