Conscious sedation

Conscious sedation is one of the services we offer at our clinic.

It provides a safe and effective method of:

anxiolysis
patient sedation.

It ensures a 100% painless procedure for patients and is commonly chosen for more demanding procedures, such as:

implant procedures
oral surgical procedures.

Since patient safety is its primary goal, the sedation must be performed by a trained professional – an anaesthesiologist. Unlike local anaesthesia, this method requires:

monitoring
special equipment.

After the procedure, the patient quickly returns to a fully conscious state. They remain under the supervision of trained staff for 20-30 minutes because dizziness may occur in many individuals. It is not recommended to drive immediately after conscious sedation. We advise patients to come for the procedure accompanied by a family member or a friend who can take them home.

Different techniques of conscious sedation

There are several different techniques of conscious sedation, differing in the method of administration and the medications used.

oral oconscious sedation – medications are taken orally
intravenous conscious sedation – medications are administered intravenously
intramuscular conscious sedation – medications are injected into the muscle
inhalation conscious sedation – inhalation of nitrogen oxide, also known as “laughing gas” or “happy gas”

At Miličić Dent Polyclinic, we exclusively use intravenous conscious sedation.

Who are the candidates for conscious sedation?

– healthy patients regardless of age

– patients with controlled systemic diseases (moderate level of diabetes, obesity, hypertension, chronic bronchitis)

Important note!

If you choose conscious sedation, be sure to bring your medical documentation and inform the dental team about your condition. This is vital because it provides the dentist and anaesthesiologist with a proper understanding of the patient’s health. Did you know that cardiovascular and respiratory problems, kidney and liver diseases, pregnancy, and mental disorders can pose challenges for sedated patients?

During your examination or consultation with the dentist and anaesthesiologist, make sure to provide a list of medications you are taking.

This allows the anaesthesiologist to prepare the appropriate dose of medications for conscious sedation in a timely manner.

When is conscious sedation recommended?

during complex procedures
during longer procedures in oral surgery and implantology
for patients with severe dental anxiety
for patients with a pronounced gag reflex – a strong response to the urge to vomit

How does conscious sedation work?

it depresses the central nervous system, reducing the functions of the central nervous system
the patient becomes calm and drowsy
it allows verbal communication between the patient and the dentist during the procedure
the patient remains aware of everything happening around them and can hear
although conscious, the patient does not feel fear, discomfort, or uneasiness but loses track of time
the intensity of physiological stress reactions is significantly reduced
the urge to vomit is reduced
saliva production and sweating are reduced
protective reflexes such as coughing and swallowing are preserved

Important note!

Temporary partial amnesia rarely occurs in some patients who feel as if they are missing certain sequences of the entire procedure.

Apart from sedative allergies in some patients, there are no absolute contraindications.

What is intravenous conscious sedation?

This type of conscious sedation is considered the most effective, safest, and predictable method of conscious sedation because medications are administered intravenously.

How is intravenous conscious sedation performed?

It is administered approximately 10 minutes before:

application of local anaesthesia
start of the dental procedure.

The anaesthesiologist administers medications with a predictable duration and monitors various parameters:

oxygen saturation
pulse frequency
level of consciousness
exact medication doses
time of the medication administration.

How long are the medications administered? They are administered throughout the procedure, from the beginning to the end. The anaesthesiologist closely monitors the patient’s condition.

Who is this type of conscious sedation recommended for?

patients undergoing demanding and lengthy procedures in oral surgery and implantology – All-on-4 and All-on-6
individuals with extreme fear and a strong gag reflex

Who is intravenous conscious sedation not recommended for?

children
adolescents

Why is it not recommended for these age groups? Because this type of sedation does not have a predictable effect on children and adolescents.