Dr. Selina Chhabra Rampal
Specialist in Paediatric Dentistry
FCDSHK (Paed Dent), FHKAM (Dental Surgery)
BDS (Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, India), MDS (Paed Dent) (HK)
MPaed Dent RCSEd, MPaed Dent RCS (Eng)
Speaks English, Hindi
Sedation Dentistry
Sedation dentistry uses a sedative to help nervous or anxious patients relax during dental treatment while staying awake. At Bayside Dental Tung Chung we offer two options for adults and children. Nitrous oxide (laughing gas) is breathed through a nose mask in the clinic and takes effect within 3–5 minutes. Monitored Anesthesia Care (MAC) is arranged by us at a MAC centre.
For younger patients, see our children’s dentistry service.
Table of Contents
Sedation Dentistry in 30 Seconds
- What it is: A sedative helps you relax during treatment. You stay awake; it is not general anaesthesia.
- Two options: Nitrous oxide is breathed through a nose mask in our clinic and works within about 3–5 minutes. MAC is arranged by us at a MAC centre.
- Who it suits: Anxious adults, people with a strong gag reflex or a longer procedure, and nervous children, usually from age 4 for laughing gas.
- Time: Usually one visit of 60–90 minutes, with at least 5 minutes of oxygen afterwards.
- Fees: Depend on treatment length, complexity and your needs. Your dentist gives a quotation after a consultation; sedation fees don’t include the dental treatment itself.
- Tell your dentist first: Laughing gas may not be suitable if you are pregnant (especially in the first trimester), have a severe breathing condition (such as COPD, severe asthma or a blocked nose) or have recently had middle-ear or eardrum surgery.
Our Dentists
Types of Sedatives at Bayside Dental Tung Chung
We offer two types of sedation: nitrous oxide in our clinic, and Monitored Anesthesia Care (MAC), which we arrange at a MAC centre.
Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas)
It is a safe and effective sedative agent that is mixed with oxygen and inhaled through a small mask that fits over your nose to help you relax.
Monitored Anesthesia Care (MAC)
We offer dental treatment under MAC for adults and children who are too anxious to have treatment done under local anaesthetic alone.
MAC involves giving sedatives to help you relax, ease anxiety and stay comfortable. Unlike general anaesthesia, you stay conscious and breathe on your own, but you are relaxed enough not to feel pain or anxiety during treatment.
MAC takes place at a MAC centre, and our staff make all the arrangements with the centre for you.
Longer or more complex procedures, such as wisdom tooth removal, can also be done with sedation where needed; see the anaesthesia options in our wisdom teeth guide.
If you feel anxious about dental treatment, talk to your dentist, who will assess whether sedation is right for you.
Laughing Gas vs MAC: What's the Difference?
| Laughing gas (nitrous oxide) | Monitored Anesthesia Care (MAC) | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | In our Tung Chung clinic | At a MAC centre, booked and arranged by us |
| How it’s given | Mixed with oxygen, breathed through a nose mask | Sedatives, as arranged by the MAC centre |
| How awake you are | Awake and able to talk to your dentist | Conscious and breathing on your own |
| Often suits | Adults and children who feel nervous (mild sedation) | Adults and children too anxious to manage with local anaesthetic alone |
Neither is general anaesthesia. Your dentist will go through your medical history and concerns first, then suggest which option suits you.
Why Choose Sedation Dentistry?
Comfort & Relaxation
Suitable for patients who feel nervous or anxious during dental procedures.
Pain-Free Treatment
Helps reduce discomfort during the procedure.
Safe & Effective
Our team is trained in providing sedation safely and effectively.
Our Sedation Option
Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas)
Nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas, is a colourless gas used to provide mild sedation. It is administered through a mask that you wear over your nose, making it easy and non-invasive.
- How It Works: Inhaled through a mask, nitrous oxide helps you feel calm and relaxed during your dental procedure.
- Fast Recovery: After the procedure, you will breathe in oxygen for at least five minutes to clear any remaining gas and regain full alertness.
- Who It’s For: Suitable for nervous or anxious adults and children undergoing various dental treatments, including people with a strong gag reflex or those needing a longer procedure such as a crown, root canal treatment or a tooth extraction. Children can usually have it from age 4.
What Are the Limits of Laughing Gas?
- It relaxes you but doesn’t put you to sleep. Laughing gas is mild sedation and you stay awake. If your anxiety is severe, it may not be enough on its own, and your dentist may suggest MAC.
- It doesn’t replace local anaesthetic. Fillings, extractions and other treatments that need numbing still use a local anaesthetic.
- You need to wear the nose mask. Children need to be willing to keep it on; if a child can’t, your dentist will discuss other options.
Sedation is always optional. Many treatments only need local anaesthetic, so if you’d rather avoid sedatives, for example because you’re in recovery or simply prefer to stay clear-headed, tell your dentist and treatment can be planned without them.
Tell Your Dentist Before Having Laughing Gas
Laughing gas may not be suitable if you are pregnant (especially in the first trimester), have a severe breathing condition (such as COPD, severe asthma or a blocked nose) or have recently had middle-ear or eardrum surgery. Your dentist will go through your medical history before treatment.
What to Expect During Your Sedation Dentistry Visit
Number of Visits: 1
Appointment Time: 60 – 90 minutes
Recovery Time: Minimal, with patients typically able to resume normal activities shortly after.
What Happens on the Day with Laughing Gas
- Talk first. Your dentist listens to your concerns, explains each step before it happens and agrees a stop signal with you, such as raising a hand, so you can pause at any time.
- Nose mask on. The gas itself needs no injection, and you should feel relaxed within about 3–5 minutes.
- Treatment. You stay awake and can talk to your dentist, who adjusts the amount of gas to keep you comfortable. If the treatment needs numbing, a local anaesthetic is still given.
- Oxygen to finish. You breathe oxygen for at least five minutes until you feel alert again.
If you’re having MAC, the day follows the MAC centre’s arrangements.
Pre- and Post-Treatment Care Instructions
Before Treatment
- Consultation: Discuss your anxiety and concerns with your dentist to determine if sedation is suitable for you.
- Dietary Advice: Have a light meal before your appointment, as it can help with the sedation process.
- Medication: Tell your dentist about any medication you take and any long-term health conditions, and follow their instructions on medication before treatment.
After Treatment
- Recovery: You will breathe oxygen to help clear the effects of nitrous oxide and regain alertness.
- Dietary Restrictions: Avoid heavy meals for about three hours after your procedure.
- Post-Treatment Care: You can resume normal activities once you feel fully alert, but we recommend avoiding strenuous activities for the rest of the day.
- If You’re Having MAC: The instructions above are for laughing gas. Arrangements for MAC are different, so please follow the instructions from your dentist and the MAC centre.
Sedation Dentistry Fees
There is no single price for laughing gas sedation; your dentist gives you a quotation after a consultation. The fee mainly depends on:
- Treatment length: a longer procedure needs longer sedation.
- Complexity: more complex treatment may need closer monitoring and adjustment.
- Your needs: each patient’s comfort needs and medical history are different.
Sedation fees don’t include the dental treatment itself. The cost of MAC depends on the treatment and the MAC centre’s arrangements, and is also quoted after your dentist’s assessment. For reference fees on other treatments, see our Dental Fee Reference page.
Book Your Sedation Dentistry Consultation
If the dentist makes you nervous, start with a consultation and tell us what worries you. Your dentist will explain whether laughing gas or MAC suits you better. Putting off treatment because of fear usually makes things harder later, as a small cavity can turn into a root canal problem or a painful emergency. Booking is simple: use the buttons below to WhatsApp us, call or book online. Bayside Dental Tung Chung is at Shop 26, Caribbean Square, 1 Kin Tung Road, Tung Chung, and our team speaks English, Cantonese, Mandarin and other languages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is sedation dentistry safe?
Yes, sedation dentistry is safe when administered by trained professionals. Laughing gas is mild sedation, you stay awake throughout, and its effects clear with at least 5 minutes of oxygen afterwards. At Bayside Dental Tung Chung we check your medical history first and closely monitor each patient. Tell your dentist beforehand if you are pregnant (especially in the first trimester), have a severe breathing condition (such as COPD, severe asthma or a blocked nose) or have recently had middle-ear or eardrum surgery.
Is nitrous oxide dentistry available in Hong Kong?
Yes. At Bayside Dental Tung Chung, nitrous oxide (laughing gas) is given in the clinic through a small nose mask and takes effect in about 3–5 minutes. You stay awake and can talk to your dentist. It suits anxious adults, people with a strong gag reflex or a longer procedure, and nervous children, usually from age 4.
How long does the effect of laughing gas last?
The effects of nitrous oxide wear off quickly, usually within a few minutes after the oxygen is administered. You breathe oxygen for at least five minutes after treatment, and most patients can resume normal activities soon after, though we suggest avoiding strenuous activity for the rest of the day.
Will I feel pain during the procedure?
Usually not. Sedation helps you feel calm and comfortable, and treatments that need numbing still use a local anaesthetic. While you may be aware of some sensations, most patients report feeling very little or no discomfort during their procedure.
How much does nitrous oxide sedation cost in Hong Kong?
There is no single price. The fee depends on how long your treatment takes, how complex it is and your individual needs, and your dentist gives you a quotation after a consultation. Sedation fees don’t include the dental treatment itself. For other treatments, see our Dental Fee Reference.
Can children have laughing gas at the dentist?
Yes. Laughing gas is usually suitable for nervous children from age 4. Our children’s dentistry team includes a registered specialist in paediatric dentistry, who explains each step in simple words and checks whether your child can keep the nose mask on. Very anxious children can be treated at a MAC centre, which we arrange. See Children’s Dentistry.
What is MAC (Monitored Anesthesia Care) sedation, and how is it different from laughing gas?
MAC is sedation carried out at a MAC centre, which we arrange, for adults and children too anxious to manage with local anaesthetic alone. You stay conscious and breathe on your own; it is not general anaesthesia. Laughing gas, by contrast, is mild sedation given in our clinic through a nose mask and works within about 3–5 minutes.
Should I eat before laughing gas?
Yes, have a light meal before your appointment, as it helps with the sedation. Avoid heavy meals for about 3 hours afterwards. If you’re having MAC, please follow the instructions from your dentist and the MAC centre.