What is conscious sedation? Conscious sedation is a safe, noninvasive technique that is widely used in dentistry for both adults and children . It involves inhaling a gas , nitrogen protoxide (also known as nitrous oxide), through a nasal mask. After inhalation, patients remain awake, calm and can cooperate as needed in the desired treatments. Who may need conscious sedation? For many people the possibility of pain at the prospect of having to perform a dental procedure gives rise to fear and / or anxiety that often interfere, or even preclude, the necessary dental treatments. It is in these people that conscious sedation is particularly advantageous, as it allows the procedures to be performed with awake and calm patients, who cooperate if necessary . Who can be submitted to conscious sedation? This conscious sedation is widely used in children who cannot collaborate in dental procedures. However, it can be applied to almost everyone , except in cases such as: Pregnants in the first trimester; Pneumothorax; Subcutaneous pulmonary emphysema; Traumatic brain injury. For this reason, conscious sedation is only applied after an assessment of the patient medical history at a first appointment. What are the advantages of conscious sedation? Conscious sedation has several advantages : It can be used in almost all medical dentistry procedures; It has a rapid effect , with a peak about 3 minutes after inhalation; It is safe and the dentist can change the sedation level at any time; Recovery is fast , about 10 minutes are enough for the drug to be eliminated from the body, which allows you to resume normal activities shortly after a dental procedure. What are the limitations of conscious sedation? The only limitation of conscious sedation is that it cannot be performed when, for whatever reason, the nose is clogged, since it involves inhalation. If you are often anxious when you go to the dentist, or if your child cannot help dental care, you now know a technique that will allow you to perform your treatments safely and without anxiety. Author : Sara Quaresma Meet the Dentistry team of Hospital da Luz network . The content published in the Health Guide is intended for the general public and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or personalized clinical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The content is produced or reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals at Hospital da Luz and is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication or the most recent update, as indicated at the beginning of each item.
