Nitrous Oxide & Oral Sedation in Manchester, NH

Nitrous oxide and oral sedation are gentle ways to help you relax during dental care while you stay awake and able to respond. At Mann Family Dental in Manchester, NH, Dr. Russell Mann offers nitrous oxide, often called laughing gas, and oral sedation for anxious adults from Manchester, Goffstown, Bedford and Hooksett, with IV sedation and an anesthesia team available when a visit calls for more.

Starting with the nerves you walk in with

Maybe it's the sound of the drill, the feeling of lying back in the chair, or a visit years ago that still makes your shoulders tighten when you think about it — whatever brings the nerves, Dr. Mann wants you to know it's okay to feel them. Our team often knows from your first phone call that you're anxious, and Dr. Mann usually calls new patients himself, often the same day they book, just to say we're looking forward to meeting you and "we're going to take really good care of you."

Relaxing with a little laughing gas

For many nervous patients, the gentlest place to start is "a little bit of gas, nitrous oxide," as Dr. Mann puts it, "to kind of relax them a little bit." You breathe it through a small mask that rests over your nose, and as it takes effect, most people feel lighter and calmer while staying awake, able to talk with us and let us know how they're doing. Kara, our hygienist, is certified in nitrous oxide as well, so that same calm can be part of your care from the moment you sit down.

Arriving already feeling calm

If you’d like a deeper sense of ease, oral sedation means taking a prescribed calming pill before your care begins, so the edge is already gone by the time we start and you can drift through your visit feeling drowsy and relaxed, awake enough to answer us but far less aware of the sounds and time passing. Because you’ll still feel sleepy afterward, you’ll bring a trusted adult to drive you home and plan an easy rest of the day, and Dr. Mann will go over exactly when and how to take your medicine, and which of your usual medications to take that morning, at your planning visit, so nothing about the day feels uncertain.

What is nitrous oxide at the dentist?

Nitrous oxide, often called laughing gas, is a mild sedative you breathe through a small nose mask during your visit, helping you feel calm and relaxed while you stay awake. Dr. Mann offers it at our Manchester dental office, a short drive from Hooksett, for patients who want to take the edge off, and it's one of the simplest ways to make a visit feel easier.

How much do nitrous oxide and oral sedation cost in Manchester, NH?

The cost depends on which option you choose and how long your visit is, so Dr. Mann goes over your sedation choices and their pricing with you before anything is scheduled, with no surprises. We offer financing through Cherry and CareCredit, and the Mann Plan, our in-office membership plan, may fit your care too. We're out of network, but our Manchester dental office files your claims so any reimbursement comes straight to you.

Will I be awake with nitrous oxide?

Yes: with nitrous oxide you stay awake and aware, just more relaxed, so you can still talk with us and let us know how you're feeling at any point during your visit. It's a lighter option than IV sedation, which makes it a lovely choice for patients who want to feel calmer while staying present for their care.

How is oral sedation different from nitrous oxide?

Oral sedation is a prescribed medicine you take by mouth, and it brings a deeper, longer-lasting calm than nitrous oxide, so you’ll feel drowsy through your visit and for several hours afterward, and you’ll need a ride home. Nitrous oxide is lighter and is breathed in only during your care, wears off within minutes once the mask comes off, and most people drive themselves home afterward, which is why Dr. Mann helps you choose based on how anxious you feel and the kind of care you need that day.

How do I know which kind of sedation is right for me?

Dr. Mann helps you decide by listening first: he'll ask what's behind your nerves — what your fears are, and what you want from your visit — and then walk you through every option we offer, from nitrous oxide to oral sedation to IV sedation that he gives himself. Some patients only need nitrous to take the edge off, others prefer something deeper for a longer visit, and he'll explain the pros and cons so the choice feels comfortable and clearly yours.

Choosing the level of calm that fits you

Nitrous oxide and oral sedation help you relax while you stay awake, and if you’d like to remember very little of your visit, Dr. Mann can offer IV sedation, which he’s permitted to give himself in New Hampshire, making you “really sleepy” and far more at ease. For full-mouth implant surgery, Blue Sky Anesthesia, a team of nurse anesthetists, joins him for deeper sedation, and whichever you choose, he’ll review your health history first and talk through every option and its cost with you, because the right choice is simply the one that helps you feel safe enough to get the care you deserve.

Can I have nitrous oxide for a cleaning or a filling?

Yes, and you don’t need a big procedure to ask for it. Kara, our hygienist, is certified to provide nitrous oxide, so a cleaning or gum treatment can be just as calm as a visit with Dr. Mann, and he uses it himself for fillings, crowns and extractions whenever a patient would like it. Just mention it when you book, and we’ll have everything ready so you can settle in with a blanket, headphones and a show while you breathe easy.

Taking the edge off, one visit at a time

  • Feel calm and relaxed in the chair
  • Kara, our hygienist, is nitrous certified
  • IV sedation and an anesthesia team when you need more
  • Blankets, hand warmers and TV with headphones
  • Serving Manchester, Goffstown, Bedford and Hooksett

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Can I drive myself home after nitrous oxide?

    Usually, yes. Nitrous oxide wears off soon after the mask comes off, so most patients can drive themselves home. Oral sedation is different: you'll feel drowsy for a while afterward, so please bring a trusted adult to drive you home from our Manchester dental office.

  • How long does oral sedation last?

    You'll feel drowsy through your visit and for several hours afterward, so plan an easy rest of the day: no driving, work or important decisions until the next morning. Nitrous oxide, by contrast, wears off within minutes of the mask coming off, which is why most patients drive themselves home from our Manchester office after it.

  • Is laughing gas safe?

    Yes. Nitrous oxide is the lightest form of dental sedation and has been used for generations: you breathe it with oxygen through a small nose mask, you stay awake and in control, and it leaves your system within minutes once we switch you to plain oxygen. Tell Dr. Mann about any breathing problems or if you might be pregnant, and he'll choose what's right for you.

  • Will I be awake with oral sedation?

    Yes, but very relaxed. Oral sedation makes you drowsy and far less aware of the sounds and the time passing, and some people doze lightly, yet you can still answer Dr. Mann and follow simple directions. If you'd rather remember almost nothing, he can talk with you about IV sedation, which he gives himself at our Manchester office.

  • What if nitrous oxide isn't enough to calm me?

    Then we'll find what is. Dr. Mann can offer oral sedation, or IV sedation, which he's licensed to give in New Hampshire and gives himself, so you can rest through your visit and remember very little of it. He'll help you choose what feels right.