Conscious sedation in dentistry: narrative review

Abstract

Purpose. The purpose of this narrative review is to demonstrate that conscious sedation is an anesthesiologic technique that, when appropriately performed, proves to be safe and valuable for the treatment of many cases that require its application such as: dental phobia patients, special needs patients, or simply to increase patient compliance in the case of investigative or very lengthy procedures.

Methods. All articles dealing with the topic of management of conscious sedation in dentistry were searched on the online platforms of scientific reading sites such as Pubmed and Medline, selecting the most current ones up to January 2022, including all languages. Considering the keyword “Sedation,” “ Dentistry,” “ Special needs,” “Dentophobia,” randomized controlled trials, prospective studies, observational studies, reviews, and retrospective studies were considered. Textbooks relevant to the topic were then reviewed, and citations of each retrieved article and those of expert opinions were examined to include as much information as possible.

Results. From the analysis of data found in the literature, it is possible to state that sedation is a special form of anesthesia that reduces pain sensitivity and induces myorelaxation, without impairing the patient’s consciousness. Moreover, it, which can be obtained by inhalation or pharmacological means, allows the patient to maintain autonomous breathing and to respond to physical and verbal stimuli.

Conclusion. Sedation in dentistry allows many patients to cope with dental sessions, reducing anxiety and emotional stress by eliminating the pain component. With conscious sedation, it is possible to bring the patient into a more relaxed situation by reducing stress and increasing compliance.