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Medical Forum / General / Dentistry / September 2005Nitrous oxide and driving
Is it true that in the US, patients are not allowed to drive themselves home after receiving nitrous oxide? Are individual dental offices allowed to set their own "rules"? Or is there a standard "waiting period" before the patient is discharged (assuming their awake and alert), at which stage they are allowed to drive? This pertains to Michigan. Thanks :-) ! Anyone? Or did the patient misunderstand? I was under the impression that nitrous oxide wears off within about 5 minutes. > Is it true that in the US, patients are not allowed to drive themselves > home after receiving nitrous oxide? Are individual dental offices [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Thanks :-) ! Yes, it's gone in a hurry. I don't think you could get out of the office and into your car fast enough to still be 'under the influence' of nitrous even if you tried. Dartos > Anyone? Or did the patient misunderstand? I was under the impression > that nitrous oxide wears off within about 5 minutes. [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >> >>Thanks :-) ! > Yes, it's gone in a hurry. > > I don't think you could get out of the office and into your car > fast enough to still be 'under the influence' of nitrous even if > you tried. That's what I understood as well (complete elimination takes 3-5 minutes). It would appear that this "rule" only applies to that particular dental office. Unless it is a rule specific to Michigan? My WAG would be either someone really, really cautious about liability or someone using other drugs in addition to the nitrous to increase sedative effects. Dartos > That's what I understood as well (complete elimination takes 3-5 > minutes). It would appear that this "rule" only applies to that > particular dental office. Unless it is a rule specific to Michigan? I would not worry AT ALL about nitrous and driving. Other forms of conscious sedation though (IV, pills) would be a definite concern. > My WAG would be either someone really, really cautious about > liability or someone using other drugs in addition to the [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >> minutes). It would appear that this "rule" only applies to that >> particular dental office. Unless it is a rule specific to Michigan? > I would not worry AT ALL about nitrous and driving. Other forms of > conscious sedation though (IV, pills) would be a definite concern. Well...maybe nitrous WHILE driving...(;^P) T Looks like someone who's really really cautious about liability (won't use nitrous unless there's an escort in the waiting room). No pills or IV involved, BTW. > My WAG would be either someone really, really cautious about > liability or someone using other drugs in addition to the > nitrous to increase sedative effects. The thing with liability is what do the expert witnesses say in court? It is well known that after a few minutes you are completely recovered. If the expert witness says that, you are fine. Some people are extra cautious with everything. They chart 1/2 page for a simple occlusal filling. Careful isn't bad I guess. > Looks like someone who's really really cautious about liability (won't > use nitrous unless there's an escort in the waiting room). No pills or [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >> liability or someone using other drugs in addition to the >> nitrous to increase sedative effects. > The thing with liability is what do the expert witnesses say in court? It > is well known that after a few minutes you are completely recovered. If the > expert witness says that, you are fine. Some people are extra cautious with > everything. They chart 1/2 page for a simple occlusal filling. Careful > isn't bad I guess. Just pray the expert witness isn't a "holistic" dentist ;-) The judge will usually pick a reputable dentist... I'd hope. >> The thing with liability is what do the expert witnesses say in court? >> It [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > Just pray the expert witness isn't a "holistic" dentist ;-) |
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