The use of nitrous oxide-oxygen inhalation sedation with local anaesthesia as an alternative to general anaesthesia for dental extractions in children.

The aim of this study was to determine whether children who were assessed to require the extraction of teeth under general anaesthetic could be treated using an alternative technique of nitrous oxide-oxygen inhalation sedation with local anaesthetic. Consent was obtained for 61 children to enter the study. Fifty-three children were treated successfully using inhalation sedation and local anaesthetic. It was evident that general anaesthetic facilities would still be required for a small proportion of children who could not cooperate adequately for treatment to be performed under sedation and local anaesthetic.