Nitrous Oxide

laurenhallmark

I have my first appt scheduled for this friday at 10:30... I work in an oral surgeons office and we have two small children coming in for work early Friday morning. Both patients are having nitrous oxide during their treatment. I havent told anyone at work yet that Im pregnant, and I want to wait until I'm further along, but am I supposed to even be in the same building when Nitrous is running? I was taught about it a few years ago but have since forgotten and dont want to ask and give myself away lol. Does anyone know anything about the limits? Thanks!

peeper72

I actually used this for pain control when I gave birth!

I think that as long as you aren't huffing enough of it (like, doing whip-its) to displace O2 then you will be perfectly fine.

PitterPat11

No No No, you can't be in the same room. I was a Dental assistant before a sahm and The dentist I worked for wouldn't let me assist even while I was TTC.

laurenhallmark

Okay... I positive that I remember I cant be in the same room too, but what about the same building? Our office is very small....so the treatment may be in the room right next to me and there arent any doors or anything

PitterPat11

When the other assistants were assisting n2o patients I stayed in the lab and worked on molds or I went up front and helped file. If your office is super small then I would suggest maybe telling just the Dr. or office manager about the preg. and see what they have to say.

laurenhallmark

Well, I am the office manager haha and Im kind of avoiding telling the dentist yet because she has been trying to conceive without any luck... I dont want to hurt her feelings. I know its unavoidable but I still am trying to find the best way to tell her.

laurynfaerie

There is no issue with being around nitrous oxide while pregnant... They use it as an alternative to the epi or IV drugs during labour. You're fine to be in the same building.

PitterPat11

laurynfaerie:

There is no issue with being around nitrous oxide while pregnant... They use it as an alternative to the epi or IV drugs during labour. You're fine to be in the same building.

There is an issue while being around it while preg. Just like if you were using IV drugs while preg, it would be an issue during the preg. a few hrs of labor and controlled IV drugs and n2o is completely different.

op- you should be fine in the same building, especially if you aren't assisting and doing office work. But going from op to op and assisting would pose a concern.

laurenhallmark

Thank you for all the input. Im thinking it should be okay too but you can never be to cautious.

Dman85

You are fine to be working around it. I am just about to graduate from a dental assisting program in school, and that was one of the last units we covered...plus it was a question on my Nitrous final To the person who's dentist would'nt let them work in the same room, maybe they were just being extra cautious is my guess.