Nitrous oxide sedation: understanding the benefits and risks.

Nitrous oxide and oxygen is widely used for conscious sedation in dental offices. It can have benefits for patients who experience dental anxiety or are medically compromised and gain from the oxygen enrichment and stress reduction. Clinicians benefit when patients are cooperative and satisfied. There are a few patients for whom nitrous oxide would not be an optimum therapy. Chronic occupational exposure to low levels of nitrous oxide has several reproductive and health risks. Reducing the ambient concentrations is important.