Sedatives are agents to aid in relaxation. They work by reducing your anxiety level and are often given when basic relaxation techniques fail. Sedatives may be used in tandem with anesthetics and analgesics. These kinds of sedatives (such as nitrous oxide and tranquilizers) can be administered before, during or after dental procedures. Patients normally receive sedation orally by inhaling nitrous oxide or swallowing a tranquilizer.
Here are some basic kinds of sedation:
Conscious sedation is sense of
calmness while awake. Analgesics, anti-anxiety agents, and sedatives are
used in some combination in order to make the patient more comfortable and
relaxed, thereby making pain more manageable. Patients who have received this
kind of sedation typically feel as though they have been asleep throughout
their appointment. Patients who are faced with a greater degree of fear or
anxiety, or are experiencing root canals or tooth extractions
sometimes ask to be sedated for their treatment.
Types of sedation
Intravenous (IV) sedation
Intravenous sedation is the administration of a tranquillizer drug into the blood system in order to facilitate dental surgery in the highly anxious patient. An IV sedative produces a very strong sensation of deep relaxation and well-being in the vast majority of patients.
Most patients who have IV sedation report remembering very little or nothing from their dental surgery. IV sedation is administered by injecting a sedative agent into one of the superficial veins of your arm or hand. As the vein is usually just under the skin and the needles used these days are extremely thin, this is usually quite painless. Most people are good candidates for this kind of sedation. Some medical conditions such as severe lung diseases, some heart problems, obesity or anorexia rule it out as an option, however.
Unlike general anesthesia, IV sedation allows you to remain medically conscious yet deeply relaxed throughout your surgery.
Inhalation sedation, Nitrous Oxide
Inhalation sedation uses combinations of nitrous oxide and oxygen gases, which are inhaled by the patient through a rubber nose mask. Nitrous oxide is a very benign, safe and simple drug to use. The strength of the sedative effect depends upon the concentration of nitrous oxide that is inhaled. The effects of nitrous oxide are easily controlled by the patient simply by breathing more or less room air through the mouth.
The effects of the gas wear off quite quickly upon removal. This gas does produce a feeling of well-being and euphoria combined with a feeling of good self-control while the treatment is being performed.
Children tend to respond better to nitrous oxide as apposed to other techniques, although some are fearful of having a mask placed on their nose.
