Objectivation of the Equimolar Mixture of Oxygen and Nitrous Oxide Anxiolytic Effect in Pediatric Dentistry: A Pilot Study.

AIM: EMONO is an equimolar mixture of oxygen and nitrous oxide. Studies investigating its anxiolytic effect mostly used behavioral scales for assessing anxiolysis in children during dental care. Observing this effect objectively in a pediatric population could be very interesting.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a prospective uncontrolled monocentric pilot study to assess the equimolar mixture of oxygen and nitrous oxide (EMONO) anxiolytic effect in children during dental care by monitoring heart rate (HR) variation.

RESULTS: A statistically significant difference could be highlighted between the HR before the dental care and after 5 minutes of EMONO inhalation, illustrating the anxiolytic effect of EMONO in an objective way. HR variation also suggests that the effect of EMONO seems to prevent a return to the initial level of stress, even during anesthesia.

CONCLUSION: All of the data in the literature confirm the essential role of nitrous oxide in pediatric dental care. Demonstrating the effectiveness of EMONO by objective criteria is necessary.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical Trials Unique Protocol ID: RC17_0275.

HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Clouet R, Dajean-Trutaud S, Grall-Bronnec M, et al. Objectivation of the Equimolar Mixture of Oxygen and Nitrous Oxide Anxiolytic Effect in Pediatric Dentistry: A Pilot Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2023;16(2):270-275.