Nitrous oxide and the volatile inhalational anesthetics have defined anxiety and pain control in both dentistry and medicine for over a century. From curious experimentation to spectacular public demonstrations, the initial work of 2 dentists, Horace Wells and William T. G. Morton, persists to this day in modern surgery and anesthesia. This article reviews the history, similarities, differences, and clinical applications of the most popular inhalational agents used in contemporary dental surgical settings.
Keywords: Ambulatory; Anesthesia induction; Coronary artery steal; Desflurane; Inhalational anesthesia; Isoflurane; Malignant hyperthermia; Minimum alveolar concentration; Nitrous oxide; Sevoflurane; Solubility.