Comparing Alpha-Stim to Nitrous Oxide for Dental Procedures

Dental anxiety is a major barrier to treatment—36% of patients experience dental fear, and 12% suffer from extreme anxiety.¹ As many as 20% of Americans avoid going to the dentist as a result of anxiety or fear.²

When it comes to relieving anxiety or reducing pain perception, nitrous oxide (or laughing gas) is a common choice. However, nitrous oxide can also cause side effects like nausea, vomiting, and impaired coordination, which may require recovery time before patients can safely resume normal activities.

Alpha-Stim^® provides a non-drug, non-sedating approach to managing dental anxiety, avoiding the pharmacologic side effects associated with nitrous oxide.

Alpha-Stim versus Nitrous Oxide

Below are key differences between Alpha-Stim and nitrous oxide in dental settings.

Using Alpha-Stim	Using Nitrous Oxide
Earclip electrodes are small and comfortable for the patient, and will not interfere with your work. The patient has full control of their treatment settings. Alpha-Stim does not produce sedation or cognitive impairment, and patients can typically resume normal activities immediately following use. There is no known risk of overdose, and Alpha-Stim can be used regularly as directed.	Patients may experience side effects. Staff may experience adverse effects from long-term, repeated exposure Patients may have objections to or fears about using drugs. It may be unsafe to use on patients with certain health conditions, such as respiratory illness or vitamin B-12 deficiency. ³

Potential Side Effects of Nitrous Oxide

Nitrous oxide is commonly used in medical and dental settings, but it may cause side effects in some individuals.

Possible side effects of nitrous oxide to be aware of

Nausea
Vomiting
Headache
Sleepiness
Sweating
Shivering
Impaired coordination

Nitrous oxide is listed under California Proposition 65 as a substance associated with reproductive risk under certain exposure conditions.⁴

Add Alpha-Stim to Your Dental Practice

Alpha-Stim is a non-drug option for alleviating dental anxiety.

Backed by decades of clinical use and over 100 research studies, Alpha-Stim is a well-established option for managing anxiety in clinical settings.

Incorporating Alpha-Stim into your practice may help improve the patient experience while supporting anxiety management without pharmacologic intervention.

Get more information here.

Sources:

Hill KB, Chadwick B, Freeman R, et al. Adult Dental Health Survey 2009: relationships between dental attendance patterns, oral health behaviours and the current barriers to dental care. Br Dent J. 2013;214:25–32.

https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/easing-dental-fear-adults#1

https://www.healthline.com/health/nitrous-oxide-side-effects#longterm-effects

https://www.cda.org/portals/0/pdfs/fact_sheets/nitrous_oxide_english.pdf

*Minor and self-limiting effects: alpha-stim.com/risk. Alpha-Stim is a non-invasive, non-drug medical device that is FDA-cleared for treating anxiety, insomnia, and pain in the United States, with approval for depression outside of the United States.