Skipping the dentist because of nerves usually means a small problem becomes a bigger, costlier one.
At Roman Dental in West Houston, TX, we offer nitrous oxide sedation, also called laughing gas, to help you stay relaxed through treatment. It works quickly, needs no fasting, and wears off fast enough that you can drive yourself home.
Dr. Roman Kotlarek is a member of the American Dental Society of Anesthesia, a national organization focused on safe sedation and anesthesia in dentistry. Sedation is part of how we practice at our Energy Corridor office, not an add-on. We offer nitrous oxide, oral sedation, and IV sedation under one roof, so if nitrous oxide turns out to be too light for you, we can move to another option without sending you to a different practice.
You don’t need to fast before nitrous oxide, and there is nothing to prepare the night before. When treatment ends, we give you 100% oxygen to clear the gas, and the effects wear off within minutes. Most patients drive themselves home and return to work, childcare, or their usual routine the same day.
Nitrous oxide is more commonly covered by dental insurance than oral or IV sedation, although coverage depends on your plan. Our team checks your benefits before your appointment, so you know what to expect before you sit down. If you’d rather spread out any cost, we offer financing through CareCredit.
Nitrous oxide sedation is a mild sedative gas, often called laughing gas, that you breathe through a small mask over your nose to feel calm and relaxed during dental treatment. It’s the lightest form of sedation dentistry we offer at Roman Dental in West Houston, TX, and it’s the one most patients start with.
The gas is mixed with oxygen, and it works quickly. You feel lighter and more at ease, sometimes with mild euphoria, and the appointment stops feeling like such a big deal. You stay awake the whole time and can answer questions, so you can tell us how you feel while we work. Few side effects come with it.
We often pair nitrous oxide with a local anesthetic. The gas settles your nerves, and the anesthetic numbs the area being treated, so the two cover different parts of the experience. When treatment ends, we switch you to 100% oxygen to clear the gas, and the effects wear off within minutes. Unlike oral or IV sedation, that lets you drive yourself home.
A small mask fits over your nose and you breathe normally. There is no needle for the sedation, nothing to swallow, and no fasting beforehand.
You feel lighter and more at ease, sometimes with mild euphoria. You stay awake and can talk with us the whole time.
Nitrous oxide is often paired with a local anesthetic, which we give once you’re relaxed. You may feel pressure during treatment, but not pain.
The gas keeps you calm while we work, and you can tell us how you’re feeling at any point.
At the end of your visit, 100% oxygen clears the nitrous oxide from your system, and the effects wear off within minutes.
You can drive yourself, and most patients go straight back to work, childcare, or their usual routine.
A good candidate for nitrous oxide sedation is someone who feels nervous about dental care but wants to stay awake, stay in control, and carry on with the day afterward. You may be a good fit if you:
Nitrous oxide isn’t the right fit for everyone. Some medical conditions and medications, such as sleep apnea, may call for a modified plan, so we review your health history before recommending any sedation. If your fear runs deeper, or your treatment is long or surgical, oral or IV sedation may suit you better, and we’ll talk through those options with you at your visit.
Nitrous oxide sedation can be paired with many everyday dental treatments at Roman Dental in West Houston, TX, especially those that use a local anesthetic. Here is where it helps most:
Dental fillings are one of the most common reasons nervous patients delay care, and waiting usually lets the cavity grow. Nitrous oxide helps you stay relaxed through the numbing injection and the sounds of the drill, so a quick visit stays quick.
Preparing a tooth for a dental crown means more time in the chair than a typical filling. Nitrous oxide helps you stay calm while we shape the tooth, and a local anesthetic keeps the area numb.
Patients often arrive for root canal therapy already in pain and worried about what’s coming. Nitrous oxide settles those nerves while a local anesthetic numbs the tooth, and you can still drive yourself home afterward.
Removing a tooth that is broken, infected, or too damaged to save is easier to face when you are relaxed. For a straightforward tooth extraction we pair nitrous oxide with a local anesthetic. For surgical extractions and impacted wisdom teeth , a deeper level of sedation is often the better match, and we’ll talk it through at your consultation.
Scaling and root planing cleans below the gumline, where gums affected by disease can be tender. Nitrous oxide helps you stay relaxed while a local anesthetic keeps the area comfortable. You can learn more on our scaling and planing page.
If your treatment is longer, or your anxiety runs higher than nitrous oxide can handle, you have stronger options, which we compare next.
| Nitrous oxide | Oral conscious sedation | IV sedation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it’s given | Inhaled through a small nose mask | A tablet taken about 30 minutes before your visit | Through a small IV line in your arm |
| How deep it goes | Mild calm, you stay awake | Deeper, longer-lasting calm, drowsy but awake | The deepest of the three, you stay conscious but remember little |
| How fast it works | Works quickly | About 30 minutes | Within minutes |
| Preparation | None | Fasting and a driver, with timing confirmed when you book | Fasting for 8 hours and a driver |
| Driving home | You can drive yourself | You need a ride | You need a ride |
| Best for | Mild to moderate nerves, dreading injections | Moderate anxiety, or patients who want to avoid a needle | Severe fear, long or surgical treatment, a sensitive gag reflex |
If nitrous oxide hasn’t been enough for you before, or your treatment will be long or surgical, we may recommend oral conscious sedation or IV dental sedation. Oral sedation can also be combined with nitrous oxide for patients who want a little more relaxation than the gas alone provides.
Dr. Kotlarek reviews your health history and your treatment plan at your consultation, so you leave knowing which level makes sense for you. If you’re still deciding, the questions below cover the most common concerns.
Yes, you can drive after nitrous oxide sedation, including home from our West Houston office. We finish your visit with 100% oxygen to clear the gas, so you don’t need to arrange a ride. Oral and IV sedation work differently: they require a driver and no driving for up to 24 hours.
Nitrous oxide doesn’t hurt, and the numbing injection feels more comfortable with it. Breathing the gas through the mask is painless, and we usually pair it with a local anesthetic, so you won’t feel pain during treatment, though you may feel pressure.
You won’t fall asleep with nitrous oxide, and most patients remember the appointment but feel calmer while it happens. You stay awake and can talk with us throughout. If you want little or no memory of your visit, IV sedation is the option designed for that, and we can talk it through at your consultation.
Nitrous oxide sedation is safe for most patients, and it’s the mildest form of sedation we offer at Roman Dental. Dr. Kotlarek is a member of the American Dental Society of Anesthesia, and we review your health history before any sedation. Conditions such as sleep apnea, or certain medications, may call for a modified plan, so tell us about everything you take. Side effects are few.
The cost of nitrous oxide sedation varies by sedation type, and insurance may cover it depending on your plan. We’re glad to give you the figure for your visit when you call us at (281) 920-4200. Coverage depends on whether sedation is medically necessary, and nitrous oxide is more commonly covered than oral or IV sedation. We check your benefits before your appointment, and we offer financing through CareCredit.
It takes only minutes for nitrous oxide to wear off once we switch you to 100% oxygen at the end of treatment. That makes it unusual among sedation options, because most patients go straight back to work, childcare, or their usual routine the same day, with no recovery period at home.
Nitrous oxide is better for you if your nerves are mild to moderate and you want to stay in control, while IV sedation is better for you if your fear is severe, your treatment is long or surgical, or you want little memory of the visit. The comparison table above lays out the differences, and Dr. Kotlarek will recommend a level based on your health history and treatment plan.
Monday - Thursday: 8am - 5pm
Friday: 8am - 2pm
Monday - Thursday: 8am - 5pm
Friday: 8am - 2pm
14535 Memorial Dr, Houston, TX 77079
Monday - Thursday: 8am - 5pm
Friday: 8am - 2pm
