Program Overview

Course Description

This two-day hands-on course offers both didactic and clinical hands-on instructions in all aspects of nitrous oxide/oxygen inhalation in general practice.

Course Outline

The course will provide the dentist with an integrated overview of the physiology and pharmacology of nitrous oxide/oxygen sedation. During the course, participants will receive both didactic and clinical "hands on" training in the administration of nitrous oxide. The didactic lectures will cover the following topics:

• Overview of anxiety and sedation definitions.
• Assessing the patient for minimal sedation.
• Pharmacology of nitrous oxide.
• Respiratory physiology.
• Nitrous oxide equipment, installation, and scavenging.
• Complications of sedation and their management.
• Nitrous oxide/oxygen sedation technique.
• The pediatric patient.
• Monitoring for sedation.

Clinical Hands-On Training

The clinical "hands on" training will allow the participant to learn the basic nitrous oxide administration technique by performing these techniques on fellow course participants. This will be carried out under the supervision of members of the Faculty of Dentistry. The following techniques will be taught and evaluated during the "hands on" portion of the course:

• BP skills assessment.
• Use of tanks – N2O & O2.
• Pulse oximeter skills and other monitoring devices.
• Administration of N2O/O2 – incremental and rapid induction techniques.

What You Will Learn

At the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Be competent in the safe administration of minimal sedation via inhalation.
• Understand the principles of managing medical emergencies that may arise.
• Comprehend the spectrum of sedation and be able to characterize and recognize conscious sedation from deep sedation.
• Understand the basics of respiratory physiology which are required for safe use of N2O sedation.
• Be knowledgeable in the pharmacology of N2O.
• Understand how to reduce N2O exposure to healthcare providers.
• Identify relative contraindications for N2O sedation.
• Describe the components and function of N2O/O2 delivery systems, and demonstrate their proper use.
• Comprehend the unique considerations for pediatric patients.
• Describe and demonstrate assessment of vital signs, appropriate monitoring and discharge criteria for patients sedated with N2O.

Prerequisites

Participant must take the medical emergencies (lecture & hands-on) course as a prerequisite to this course and must hold a current Heart and Stroke BLS certification for health care professionals.

Instructors

• Dr. Chris Lee, DDS, MSc, GPR: Completed an MSc in pharmacology at the University of Ottawa before attending dental school at Dalhousie University.
• Dr. Shannon Fitzpatrick, BSc, DDS, Cert Ped, FRCDC, DABPD: Completed her dental degree at Dalhousie University in 2000 and practiced in Ottawa and Prince Edward Island before beginning a two-year residency in pediatric dentistry.

Course Details

• Course Fee: $2,150.00
• CEUs: 20 CEUs
• Total Learning Hours: 20.0
• Location: Carleton Campus
• Instruction Delivery Method(s): Classroom + Lab Hands-On
• Schedule:
  • Mar 25, 2026 to Apr 26, 2026
  • Type: Online - Self-Paced
  • Dates: Mar 25, 2026 to Apr 25, 2026
  • Type: Lab - Hands On
  • Days: Saturday
  • Time: 8:30AM to 4:15PM
  • Dates: Apr 25, 2026
  • Type: Lab - Hands On
  • Days: Sunday
  • Time: 9:00AM to 4:30PM
  • Dates: Apr 26, 2026

Accrediting Associations

• Dalhousie Faculty of Dentistry Continuing Professional Education - Hands-On Hours
• Dalhousie Faculty of Dentistry Continuing Professional Education - Lecture Hours