Nitrous Oxide Monitoring Review

When patients must be purposefully aroused either by verbal command or with light tactile stimulation, they are in a level of ____________________. (pg. 11)

• minimal sedation

• moderate sedation

• deep sedation/analgesia

• general anesthesia

Answer explanation

Patients who can be aroused by verbal command or light tactile stimulation are in moderate sedation. This level allows for responsiveness while still providing sedation, distinguishing it from deeper sedation levels.

When loss of consciousness is intended with a drug, the level of sedation is defined as _________.

• minimal sedation

• moderate sedation/analgesia

• deep sedation/analgesia

• general anesthesia

Answer explanation

When loss of consciousness is intended, the highest level of sedation is termed general anesthesia, which ensures complete unconsciousness, unlike minimal or moderate sedation that allows for some awareness.

All of the following are likely signs of fear except one. Which one is the exception?

• Excessive talking

• Arrives early to appointment

• Refusal to cooperate

• Cancelled appointment

Answer explanation

Arriving early to an appointment typically indicates eagerness or preparedness, not fear. In contrast, excessive talking, refusal to cooperate, and cancelling an appointment are more direct signs of fear.

All of the following are physiological signs of a person’s fear of the dental office except one. Which one is the exception?

• Sobbing

• Sweating

• Sleeping

• Shaking

Answer explanation

Sleeping is not a physiological sign of fear; it indicates relaxation or disengagement. In contrast, sobbing, sweating, and shaking are common physical responses to fear, making sleeping the exception.

All of the following statements are true regarding the topic of pain and anxiety except one. Which one is the exception?

• Anxiety causes pain to be less tolerable.

• An increase in pain enhances anxiety.

• Various cultures express pain differently.

Answer explanation

The statement 'An increase in pain enhances anxiety' is the exception. While pain can lead to increased anxiety, the relationship is not straightforward; anxiety often makes pain feel worse, not the other way around.

Pain tolerance ________ in an individual.

• does not change

• increases rapidly

• decreases with age

• varies every hour

Answer explanation

Pain tolerance is generally considered a stable trait in individuals, meaning it does not change significantly over time. Therefore, the correct answer is that pain tolerance does not change.

The effects of nitrous oxide can be reversed by

• naloxone.

• oxygen.

• a benzodiazepine.

• local anesthetics.

Answer explanation

The effects of nitrous oxide can be reversed by administering oxygen, as it helps to displace the gas from the body and restore normal oxygen levels. Other options like naloxone or benzodiazepines do not reverse nitrous oxide effects.

In the presence of fear, a patient’s pain threshold likely

• increases.

• decreases.

Answer explanation

In the presence of fear, the body's stress response can lower pain tolerance, making the patient more sensitive to pain. Therefore, the correct answer is that the pain threshold decreases.

While in a relaxed state using nitrous oxide/oxygen sedation, a patient will likely think time has passed by more

• slowly.

• quickly.

Answer explanation

While using nitrous oxide/oxygen sedation, patients often experience altered perceptions, leading them to feel that time has passed quickly. This is a common effect of the sedation, making the correct answer 'quickly'.

The Globally Harmonized System (GHS) hazard pictograms appropriate for nitrous oxide include a cylinder indicating compressed gas and a(n)

• flame indicating its flammability.

• flame over a circle indicating it is an oxidizer.

• test tube spilling indicating it is corrosive.

• exploding bomb indicating it is explosive.

Answer explanation

Nitrous oxide is an oxidizer, which is represented by the flame over a circle pictogram. The cylinder indicates it is a compressed gas, while the flame over a circle highlights its oxidizing properties.