205 - Evaluation of the Efficacy and Safety of Hospital-Administered Nitrous Oxide

Objective: General Anesthesia and Sedation are important tools pediatric dentist use to complete critical dental treatment for children, however, these methods come with major risks to the patients and can lead to financial burdens on the patient’s family and ties up vital hospital resources. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of behavior management and hospital administered nitrous oxide for pediatric patients between 4-13 years of age following referral for oral conscious sedation and/or general anesthesia from external dental practices.  By evaluating these interventions following referrals from external dental practices, the study aims to optimize dental care pathways and reduce reliance on more advanced care methods such as sedation and general anesthesia. 

Methods: A chart review was conducted at the NYU Langone Brooklyn FHC pediatric dental department between the dates of June 1st, 2024 to December 31st, 2024 looking at all the pediatric patients aged 4-13 with a referral from outside dentist. Investigation into why they have been referred to NYU Langone Brooklyn FHC pediatric dental department was done in order to determine if all the patients that have been referred can be treated chairside with nitrous oxide and/or behavior management technique prior to resorting to sedation or GA.

 

Results: The date showed that many patients from the age of 4-13 benefit from having hospital administered nitrous oxide for restorative treatment. As providers we can avoid referring dentally anxious patients for more advanced patient management techniques such as oral conscious sedation and general anesthesia by use of behavior management techniques in conjunction with nitrous oxide. Additionally, this reduces the burden on sedation and general anesthesia waiting times and resources.

Conclusions: Through the use of nitrous oxide, we hope to reduce the reliance on advance methods such as sedation and general anesthesia, thus promoting safer and less intrusive treatment options for children and minimizing associated risks and complications. Ultimately, the insights gained from this research empower healthcare providers to deliver more patient-centered, evidence-based care, fostering better oral health outcomes and overall well-being for pediatric patients.

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