The ongoing Russia-Ukraine war is making it difficult for dental offices in the U.S. to obtain nitrous oxide and helium, CBS affiliate KIMA reported March 12.
The two countries are large suppliers of the two gases, which are part of a larger list of supplies dental practices have had trouble accessing since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic with shipping delays, increased freight costs and shortages.
The New York State Dental Association told the news station that dental practices used to spend about 5 percent of revenue on supplies before the pandemic but are now spending about 9 percent.