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Nitrous oxide sedation: what did the researchers investigate?
A prospective questionnaire-based study conducted at the University of Greifswald in Germany evaluated the satisfaction of children, accompanying adults and dentists with dental treatment performed under nitrous oxide sedation.
The study included 51 children aged 3–15 years who were anxious and/or had difficulties cooperating during dental treatment. A total of 54 nitrous oxide sedation sessions were performed.
What were the results?
3 key findings
- 92.6% highly satisfied: this proportion of participating children reported high satisfaction with dental treatment under nitrous oxide sedation.
- Cooperation: 59.3% of patients achieved the maximum score of 4 on the Frankl Behaviour Rating Scale.
- 97 teeth treated: 82.5% were primary teeth, and extraction was the most common procedure (60.8%).
Most accompanying adults also expressed high satisfaction, with a mean score of 0.6 ± 1.0 on the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) used in the study.
What does this mean for clinical practice?
The researchers concluded that dental treatment under nitrous oxide sedation was associated with high satisfaction among most participating children, accompanying adults and dentists.
Nitrous oxide sedation enhanced patient cooperation, making dental treatment possible and more acceptable in the majority of the cases examined.
Original article:
Satisfaction with dental treatment performed under nitrous oxide sedation: prospective questionnaire-based study.
Authors: W. F. B. Oune et al.
Source: Read the original study