The University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics is notifying the families of 124 pediatric patients after discovering they may have been given more nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, than is recommended.
According to The Gazette, pediatric patients who visited the Iowa City-based Pediatric Dentistry Clinic between March 1 and April 20 may have been affected. The problem stems from a tube that was improperly installed after a remodel.
Some patients "had no problems at all," Michael Kanellis, DDS, associate dean for patient care at the UI College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics, told The Gazette. However, some patients did exhibit problems, such as not responding as would be expected, feeling nauseated or falling asleep during the visit.
The problem was uncovered after providers reported adverse reactions to the department chair and administrators then notified the building staff. When the root cause of the problem was discovered April 20, dentists stopped all use of laughing gas for roughly two days until it was fixed.
The letter sent to families of potentially affected children warn of the issue and ask to confirm if the children are doing well, according to The Gazette.
"As always, the safety and health of our patients is our first concern. We are focused on helping them understand the risk and seek the appropriate evaluation and treatment if needed," Dr. Kanellis told The Gazette.