{"id":543,"date":"2025-04-01T21:21:44","date_gmt":"2025-04-01T21:21:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/blog\/?p=543"},"modified":"2025-06-11T21:22:55","modified_gmt":"2025-06-11T21:22:55","slug":"which-is-better-laughing-gas-oral-sedation-plano","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/blog\/2025\/04\/01\/which-is-better-laughing-gas-oral-sedation-plano\/","title":{"rendered":"Which is Better: Laughing Gas or Oral Sedation?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-medium\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image-300x200.png\" alt=\"Woman shrugging her shoulders on purple background\" class=\"wp-image-544\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image.png 634w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Like many Americans, you have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/sedation-dentistry.html\">dental anxiety<\/a>. Sitting through treatment has always made you extremely uncomfortable, to the point where you avoid making appointments, even though you know you should. So, you\u2019re well aware that you\u2019ll be needing some type of dental sedation to make it through the experience \u2013 you\u2019re just not sure which one. If your dentist offers both laughing gas and oral sedation, which is the better option?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It will ultimately depend on your needs and preferences, but there are a few differences between these methods that can help you narrow down the possibilities. Keep reading to learn more!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Breathing in A Gas Vs. Taking a Pill<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The most obvious difference between laughing gas and oral sedation is that one is a gas you inhale, while the other is a pill you swallow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To administer laughing gas, your dentist will place a low-profile mask over your mouth and nose, flip a switch, and \u201cput you under\u201d within seconds. Oral sedation is typically prescribed well in advance so you can take it an hour or two before your appointment. This times the effects so you\u2019ll start to feel more relaxed during your treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u201cLight\u201d Sedation Vs. \u201cDeep\u201d Sedation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Laughing gas is considered extremely mild. You\u2019ll feel more at ease and possibly even euphoric, but you won\u2019t achieve the same level of sedation that an oral pill will provide. When taken orally, the sedative effects will make you feel groggier and \u201cout of it,\u201d and patients often forget the entire treatment experience. As a result, laughing gas is usually recommended for mild anxiety, and oral sedation is more commonly advised for moderate to severe anxiety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Budget-Friendly Vs. More Costly<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Last but certainly not least, there is a bit of a price difference between these two types of sedation. Since dental insurance doesn\u2019t always cover these costs, it\u2019s an important factor to consider. As the simpler and milder option, laughing gas tends to be on the budget-friendly end of the spectrum, while taking a pill can be more expensive. If you\u2019re concerned about treatment costs, make sure to clarify this point with your dentist!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Not every anxious patient has the same needs or preferences when it comes to dental sedation. It\u2019s ultimately up to you and your dentist to decide which option will be best for your unique situation. Call them well ahead of your scheduled appointment or before you even get one in the books, and they\u2019ll be happy to discuss the details with you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About the Practice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/meet-dr-laura-philipps.html\">Dr. Laura Philipps<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/meet-dr-marisa-ramos.html\">Dr. Marisa Ramos<\/a> are compassionate dentists who give their patients their undivided attention. They make your comfort a priority and gladly offer laughing gas and oral sedation for nervous patients. If you struggle to make and attend regular dental appointments, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/contact.html\">call<\/a> Dr. Philipps and Dr. Ramos\u2019 office at 432-570-4433.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Like many Americans, you have dental anxiety. Sitting through treatment has always made you extremely uncomfortable, to the point where you avoid making appointments, even though you know you should. So, you\u2019re well aware that you\u2019ll be needing some type of dental sedation to make it through the experience \u2013 you\u2019re just not sure which [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Which is Better: Laughing Gas or Oral Sedation? | Laura Philipps, DMD<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"You know you need dental sedation, but which option will be best for you? Learn more about laughing gas and oral sedation in this post.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lauraphilippsdmd.com\/blog\/2025\/04\/01\/which-is-better-laughing-gas-oral-sedation-plano\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Which is Better: Laughing Gas or Oral Sedation? | Laura Philipps, DMD\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"You know you need dental sedation, but which option will be best for you? 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