Inhalation sedation--is this a potential health hazard for the dentist and his staff?

The vogue for using various inhalation sedation tech­ niques has reached South Africa. Commercial houses advertise specialized equipment which is used for this purpose and there is a great deal of interest amongst members of the profession in courses given by visiting lecturers. Both advertisers and lecturers have stressed the safety factor; that is, the safety of using inhalation sedation for the patient. The emphasis on this factor is probably related to the controversy regarding the single operator/anaesthetist or operator/sedationist as he is often called.