Can I request nitrous oxide and novacaine?
Most dentist’s office will give you nitrous oxide on request, and it often costs extra. (At my dentist’s it costs about $20) You don’t have to request novocaine. What usually happens, if you request nitrous is: 1. The dentist puts a mask over your nose to administer nitrous. You sit there for a while until it kicks in. 2. Novocaine, a topical anesthetic is rubbed into your gums, around the sites where injections will take place. 3. A local anesthetic is injected into your gums. You shouldn’t be able to feel anything except for a little pressure and an odd senstation, because you’ve been under the nitrous and had the novocaine on your gums for a while. You’re likely to receive more than one injection. I would recommend using nitrous, especially if you’re anxious. Relax. It isn’t that bad. You’ll feel a lot better afterwards.
