Abstract
Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a commonly used safe and effective inhalational anesthetic agent in pediatric dentistry. Here, we aimed to evaluate the association between methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) polymorphisms (C677T and A1298C) and adverse effects in nine Saudi pediatric patients who received dental treatment under N2O sedation using genetic screening tests. Five of the subjects were male (55.6%) and the mean age was 6.8 (+/- 2.35) years. The mean time before the last meal was 6.1 (+/- 4.4) and the mean duration of receiving N2O was 33 (+/- 14.86) minutes. Only two subjects developed mild to moderate adverse effects, such as nausea, vomiting, dizziness, fatigue, and sleepiness. Genetic screening revealed that both subjects were homozygous for MTHFR C677T and A1298C polymorphisms. This suggests a possible relationship between combined MTHFR polymorphisms and the development of mild and moderate adverse effects in pediatric patients receiving dental treatment under N2O sedation.