Recovery and enhancement of reflex reaction time after nitrous oxide analgesia.

The findings of this study substantiate the assumption that psychomotor impairment is rapidly reversed following the administration of nitrous oxide. The concern of clinicians is to determine the optimum oxygenation period after administration of N2O and to show whether there is a need for prolonged observation before the patient can be released. Generally, under short-term conditions such as are used in conjunction with outpatient dental treatment, the patient should be largely recovered after a five-minute exposure to 100% oxygen at the conclusion of the appointment. However, further benefit apparently is gained from a somewhat longer time of recuperation before engaging in any activity requiring extracting psychomotor skills. The results of this study indicate that 15 minutes is an appropriate delay after relatively short exposure to N2O. It cannot be determined from this study whether longer-term exposure, such as the periods involved in complicated restorative procedures, would require longer recovery periods for certain individuals.