From which body must a nitrous oxide permit be obtained?

• A. The board.
• B. The Department of Health.
• C. DEA.
• D. Local government.

Answer: (A)

Permits for administering nitrous oxide in dental settings come from the state regulatory body that oversees dental practice. The board sets the qualifications, training, and safety standards for sedation and analgesia in dentistry, and it issues the nitrous oxide permit to qualified dentists and dental hygienists. This centralized oversight helps ensure consistent, patient-safety focused practice across offices.

The Department of Health generally licenses facilities and oversees public health programs, not the individual practitioner’s nitrous oxide authorization. The DEA handles registrations related to controlled substances, but the nitrous oxide permit for dental use is typically issued by the state dental board, not the DEA. Local government does not issue such professional-scope permits.