Exploring the Effect on 5 Senses in Children under Nitrous Oxide Sedation

Abstract

BACKGROUND Sensation and perception are two separate processes that are very closely related. Sensation is the input about the outside world obtained by our sensory receptors while perception is the difficult system by which the brain selects, organizes and interprets these sensations. Effects of nitrous oxide on the sensation and perception has not been unturned although role in physiological, anxiolytic, behavioural, psychomotor and analgesic parameters have been examined in both children and adults. The human senses have long been unnoticed, despite their responsiveness being of great importance. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of nitrous oxide inhalation sedation on 5 senses i.e. sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste at different titrations of nitrous oxide and oxygen. METHODS 7 to 12 years old children with Frankl’s behaviour rating score of 2, 3 and 4 with no prior dental experience and requiring dental treatment under nitrous oxide sedation who were systemically healthy were included in the study. The 5 senses (i.e. hearing, touch, smell, taste and vision) were evaluated with different materials at 4 different titration levels to evaluate the effect of nitrous oxide on the 5 senses T0: 100 % oxygen, T1: 30 % nitrous oxide, T2: 50 % nitrous oxide, T3: 100 % oxygen. RESULTS The results of the present study depicted that there is significant difference in the perception of various senses at different concentrations of nitrous oxide and also when compared to baseline values. It was observed that the patient regained the normal perception in 5 minutes after 100 % oxygen post-operatively. CONCLUSIONS Nitrous oxide is found to depress/relax one’s senses too. KEY WORDS Vision, Smell, Taste, Touch, Sound, Perception, Consciousness, Nitrous Oxide Sedation, Oxygen, Behaviour