We all know that the dentist's chair has not always been considered a relaxing place!
In fact, many people are afraid of pain, needles or any kind of dental care in general.
But, then, how to behave when these treatments are necessary? What if children are afraid?
How can these problems be resolved?
Conscious sedation is commonly used in dentistry for people who feel anxious or panicked during complex procedures like fillings, root canals, or routine cleanings.
Conscious sedation helps reduce anxiety, discomfort, and pain during certain procedures. This is accomplished with medications and (sometimes) local anesthesia to induce relaxation.
Types of conscious sedation
There are two different types of conscious sedation:
Nitrous oxide also called laughing gas.
Thanks to the use of a mask, nitrous oxide and oxygen are dosed, mixed and administered to the patient, who always remains conscious and able to respond to stimuli, managing to collaborate with the professional who will work more easily. On the other hand, the patient feels more relaxed and secure.
Conscious sedation is neither toxic nor irritating, it does not cause allergies and is naturally eliminated by the body while breathing, which makes it a completely safe method. Precisely for this reason it is suitable for both adults and children, and is often used in pediatric dentistry treatments.
Intravenous conscious sedation.
This second type is indicated for implant surgery, because it offers more safety than other routes of administration. How is it performed?
The doctor carries out a study of the patient's risk factors through a special anesthetic visit, then on the day of the surgery he performs sedation with a single drug.
Throughout the duration of the session, vital functions will be clinically monitored as well as the state of alertness and the correctness of responses to verbal commands. Intravenous conscious sedation requires the presence of an experienced specialist in conscious sedation and an assistant who will monitor the vital functions.
What are the benefits?
There are several benefits to sedation dentistry, including:
No fear or anxiety during treatment
No memory of undergoing the procedure
No sense of time while under sedation
No sense of smell or sound
Patients who have undergone a procedure using sedation dentistry will tell you it is a simple, relaxing way to experience dentistry.