Child behaviour during dental care under nitrous oxide sedation: a cohort study using two different gas distribution systems

PURPOSE: Conscious sedation by inhalation of a mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen (CS) is a technique used in dental care for anxious, handicapped or uncooperative patients. The very special objective of this cohort study is to compare the behaviour of young patients during dental care under CS in two hospitals using different gas distribution systems. METHODS: Young patients were divided into four categories: young child (YC), phobic anxiety (PA), mental disorder (MD), occasional indication (OI). Differences in behaviour scale at various time points according to the sedation system used were established and compared using Mann–Whitney tests. RESULTS: This study showed that there is no difference in behaviour during dental care in YC after sedation. In PA, a significant difference in behaviour is only observed during local anaesthesia (p = 0.024). CONCLUSION: No significant differences detected in children’s behaviour under conscious sedation using different gas administration systems. The delicate stage of local anaesthesia in PA patients can be facilitated with repeated sessions of dental care under conscious sedation. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1007/s40368-020-00569-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorised users.