Why do dentists prefer the pill method of sedation to the gas?

Nitrous in your office triples malpractice insurance costs. It is also expensive to implement a the equipment and restock it. liability goes through the roof compared to prescribing an oral sedative.

I know of very very few general dentists who have nitrous in their office.

Just a heads up,you may not want them to give you a drug called Versed

In fact, many people who use Versed for "conscious sedation" during a procedure are awake for the entire procedure but remember nothing, often believing they were "out" the whole time.

Versed (Midazolam) is an amnestic. It is commonly administered in combination with anesthesia before and during surgery. It is also commonly used for minor procedures like colonoscopies dental procedures like extractions,conscience sedation so that patients won't remember pain and discomfort. However, that does not mean that those sensations will not be experienced.

Harder to regulate the amount of gas.