I never went back to that dentist, and never again agreed to use laughing gas.

Any associated medications or substances with the potential to affect the experience?   Yes    Nitrous oxide (laughing gas)

Was the kind of experience difficult to express in words?   No   

At the time of this experience, was there an associated life threatening event?   Uncertain    I didn't know if I was just having an out-of-body experience, or if I was overdosing on nitrous oxide and dying.

What was your level of consciousness and alertness during the experience?   Very conscious and very alert.

Was the experience dream like in any way?   No.

Did you experience a separation of your consciousness from your body?   Yes   I don't remember thinking I was any different than my body below me.

What emotions did you feel during the experience?    At first -- not scared; it was very peaceful. But then, when I started to wonder if I would keep rising and if I was overdosing on the nitrous oxide, I started becoming very concerned and I wasn't sure if I could get back into my body.

Did you hear any unusual sounds or noises?    No, just the normal noises in the room.

Did you recognize any familiar locations or any locations from familiar religious teachings or encounter any locations inhabited by incredible or amazing creatures?    No   

Did you see a light?    No   

Did you meet or see any other beings?    No   

Did you experiment while out of the body or in another, altered state?   No   

Did you observe or hear anything regarding people or events during your experience that could be verified later?   Yes    The doctor yelled at the nurse, �Nurse, adjust that gas!!� She quickly turned down the flow of gas. They said that was exactly what had happened.

Did you notice how your 5 senses were working, and if so, how were they different?    Yes    Sight and hearing were working fine; I don't remember smell and I didn't need to taste or feel.

Did you have any sense of altered space or time?    Yes    Altered space -- I saw everything below me, including myself, from a vantage point of about 15 feet above me, even though the ceiling was probably 9 feet high at the most.

Did you have a sense of knowing, special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose?    Yes    Just the knowledge that a person can rise above their body, and not be confined to the physical space in the room.

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure?    No   

Did you become aware of future events?    No   

Were you involved in or aware of a decision regarding your return to the body?    Yes    The tooth filling went well, and after about 10 minutes, I found myself rising above the dental chair, looking down on myself. I continued to rise until I was about 10-20 feet above myself and the dentist and dental assistant, looking down on the whole scene. At that point, I was thinking to myself, �This is kind of neat.� At first, I was not scared; it was very peaceful. But then, when I started to wonder if I would keep rising and if I was overdosing on the nitrous oxide, I started becoming very concerned and I wasn't sure if I could get back into my body. Then I thought, �But, isn�t this what happens to people when they die?� I started to wonder if I was experiencing an out-of-body experience or near-death experience (NDE). So, I decided to try to ask the dentist what was happening; however, I was not sure that I could control my mouth and tongue in my body way down there on the chair. I decided that I had to try anyway, and try quickly! What was strange was that I was trying to say the words up above, and I saw my mouth move and make the sound down below! And, I saw everything below me, including myself, from a vantage point of about 15 feet above me, even though the ceiling was probably 9 feet high at the most. I said, �Doctor, I�m feeling funny, and I�m looking down on myself and you and the nurse from about 15 feet above.�

Did you have any psychic, paranormal or other special gifts following the experience that you did not have prior to the experience?    No   

Did you have any changes of attitudes or beliefs following the experience?   Yes    Not afraid of any pain that happens during death. Very peaceful.

How has the experience affected your relationships? Daily life? Religious practices? Career choices?    No.

Has your life changed specifically as a result of your experience?   No   

Have you shared this experience with others?    Yes    They told me about their own OBE experiences or their relatives'. They thought it was very interesting. Some started reading more about it.

What was the best and worst part of your experience?   Best -- Knowing it is peaceful to be out of your body.

Worst -- fear that I might be able to get back into my body and keep living.

Is there anything else you would like to add concerning the experience?    It was real.  It has never happened again.

Following the experience, have you had any other events in your life, medications or substances which reproduced any part of the experience?    No           

Did the questions asked and information you provided accurately and comprehensively describe your experience?    Yes     I wrote the details of this experience down within a year or two of it happening, and it was still very fresh on my mind, since I had been telling it to multiple people, including my own family, over that time period.