What effect does using 100% oxygen have in dental procedures?

Using 100% oxygen during dental procedures primarily serves to help flush out nitrous oxide from the system. When nitrous oxide is used for sedation, administering pure oxygen afterward aids in eliminating the nitrous oxide more efficiently from the patient's body. This process enhances recovery time and ensures that the patient's body returns to normal physiological function more rapidly after sedation.

In addition, oxygen therapy can improve the overall oxygen saturation in the blood, promoting patient safety and stability during and after dental procedures. While reducing anxiety and increasing the effectiveness of sedation may occur indirectly through the feeling of safety that comes with proper oxygenation, these effects are not the primary action of using 100% oxygen in the context of dental procedures. Similarly, raising blood pressure is not a typical outcome associated with oxygen therapy, as it is generally well tolerated and does not have direct hypertensive effects.