The Brits are claiming that a little bit of nitrous oxide combined with hypnosis might be a better dental anaesthetic than a full blast of laughing gas:

The researchers believe the gas nitrous oxide could then be used more sparingly or for more serious operations where usually a full anaesthetic is used.

The team at University College London found that people were more open to hynosis when they were using the drug, which is used by dentists to relieve pain and relax patients during minor operations.

A number of dentists have been trained in hypnosis and find that their patients respond well to being spoken to in a quiet, hypnotic manner.

The new findings suggest that these effects could be further enhanced with laughing gas.

The UCL study set out to establish whether laughing gas does indeed boost imaginative suggestibility – a trait closely related to hypnotic suggestibility.

Uh, huh.  It is perfectly evident that this is nothing more than a cover story to allow NHS bean-counters to cut NO2 outlays and save themselves some dosh.

Dentist: Repeat after me. ‘This does not hurt.’

Patient: Thnsh drsh nt haurt.

Dentist: This does not hurt.

Patient: Thnsh drsh nt..Auught! Wrt mnit…It DUSH hrtt!!!

Dentist: This Does Not Hurt!

Patient: THrrrrrsh hrrrstshss!!!!!

Dentist: THIS DOES NOT HURT!!!!

Patient: THHRRSSS ISH BGRURRFING KLLINGSHHH MEEEE!!!!!!

Ah, socialized medicine.