Inhalation sedation

We understand that visiting the dentist can feel a little scary for some children. To help them feel more relaxed, we offer nitrous oxide sedation to children (5+), also known as ‘happy air’—a safe and gentle way to ease anxiety during simple dental treatments.

Your child will wear a small, soft mask over their nose and breathe in a mix of nitrous oxide and oxygen. To make the experience more fun, we use smelly pens to let your child choose their favourite scent for the mask: banana, cola, strawberry, or watermelon!

After a few minutes of breathing in the ‘happy air’, most children feel calm, light, and sometimes a bit tingly in their fingers or toes. Many say they feel warm and floaty—like they're in a dream.

Once the treatment is complete, the effects wear off quickly as the gas is completely breathed out of the body. While some children may feel a little sleepy or tired afterwards, they usually recover very quickly. We'll keep a close eye on them for a short time to make sure they're ready to head home safely.

We will go over everything at your child’s pre-op assessment, where you’ll have the chance to ask any questions and fully understand what to expect.

Before the appointment 

• Eating and drinking:
  Please ensure your child has a light meal or snack at least 2 hours before the appointment. Nothing should be eaten or drunk in the 2 hours leading up to the visit. A small sandwich or piece of toast is ideal.
• Clothing and comfort:
  We encourage children to bring something comforting with them—like a teddy, blanket, or headphones—to help them feel more at ease during the appointment.
• Who can attend:
  Only a parent or legal guardian should accompany your child. For safety and focus, please do not bring siblings, babies, or friends on the day of treatment. Extra people in the room can be a distraction for your child and the team.

During the appointment

• One parent will be invited to stay in the room to help reassure your child.
• Your child will wear a soft nosepiece to breathe in the ‘happy air’. To make the experience fun and engaging, they can choose from a variety of smelly scents—banana, cola, strawberry, or watermelon!

Preparing at home 

• At the sedation assessment, we’ll show you the nosepiece and demonstrate how to breathe through it. To help your child feel more confident on the day, we recommend practising at home:
• Have your child lie on their back in bed, with their mouth open, breathing slowly in and out through their nose.
• Practice this once a day leading up to the appointment.
• Supervise and give lots of praise for their efforts—this helps build familiarity and confidence!

Important notes:

• No need to fast: Your child does not need to be kept without food or drink from midnight before their appointment. A light meal a few hours before is recommended.
• Medications: Continue any prescribed medications unless instructed otherwise by your dentist.
• Allergies: Let us know at the assessment if your child has any allergies to medications, foods, or materials.
• Illness: If your child becomes unwell or develops a cold before the appointment, please call us. A blocked nose may prevent them from safely using the ‘happy air’, and treatment may need to be rescheduled.

We are here to make your child’s visit as comfortable and positive as possible. If you have any questions before the day, please don’t hesitate to contact the team.