Is nitrous oxide safe? i get really nervous during all dental procedures, so my dentist always gives me nitrous oxide so i won't freak out, even during cleanings. i recently read that too much is bad for you. how much is too much? should i stop getting it

Nitrous : Nitrous oxide is safe when administered properly by a licensed professional, and has been used routinely for dental procedures since the mid 1800's. The delivery system safely mixes the nitrous oxide with oxygen, so that a safe dosage can be delivered. Your routine cleanings only last a short period of time, and the amount of exposure is minimal. Most if not all of the nitrous oxide inhaled during your dental visit has been exhaled by the time you are ready to leave the office.

Safe and effective: Nitrous oxide (laughing gas) is a perfectly safe and effective adjunct to the painless delivery of dental treatment, especially for those who are anxious, if used properly. Like any sedative or anesthetic drug, patients should be monitored and it should not be abused. The recommended levels for dentistry are highly effective with little or no incidence of side effects.

Safe to use : Nitrous oxide is safe to use in the dental office for periods up to an hour or so as long as the oxygen levels are monitored as most modern machines do.

Very safe: It is possible to overdose on nitrous. This happens if the body does not receive enough oxygen. But, modern delivery systems of nitrous in dental offices will have regulators that will not allow the oxygen content to drop below safe levels.

Safe and Effective: Yes , it is safe when properly used. Not recommended for pregnant women.

Yes: Repeat exposure to nitrous oxide can lead to serious health consequences, including vitamin B12 deficiency resulting in neurological deficits. In fact, this is a major occupational hazard among dentists who use nitrous regularly on their patients and may have poor waste gas scavenging systems, and among dentists who abuse nitrous oxide themselves for recreational purposes.

Safe: It is very safe--unless you are pregnant. As with most medication, we are concerned about testing the safety of any drug on anyone that is pregnant.