Efficacy of nitrous oxide inhalation sedation and first permanent molar tooth extractions

Abstract

Objective: To determine baseline data in relation to the extraction of first permanent molar teeth during nitrous oxide/oxygen inhalation sedation sessions within the hospital dental service.

Design: A prospective study.

Setting: The Department of Paediatric Dentistry, Dundee Dental Hospital, NHS Tayside, UK.

Method: Data were collected over a 12-month period for patients attending for the extraction of first permanent molar teeth using nitrous oxide/oxygen inhalation sedation.

Results: Data were available for 133 patients (M: 68; F: 65) with a median age of 11.3 (inter-quartile range 10.0, 12.6) years. Over 80% of cases were treated using a mixture of 30% nitrous oxide and 70% oxygen, with a median sedation time of 30.0 (inter-quartile range 25.0, 40.0) minutes. Overall, 94.0% of cases successfully completed treatment and only 0.75% of cases failed to commence or complete treatment. Regarding each visit, 85.6% and 14.4% of patients underwent single- and multiple-tooth extractions respectively. There were no statistically significant differences between male and female patients, comparing both behaviour (Mann-Whitney U, W = 4,619.9, P = 0.750) and outcome scores (Mann-Whitney U, W = 4,392.5, P = 0.392).

Conclusion: Extraction of first permanent molar teeth can be successfully achieved using nitrous oxide/oxygen inhalation sedation.