CONSCIOUS SEDATION AND PAIN CONTROL IN DENTAL SURGERY WITH NITROUS OXIDE: CLINICAL PROTOCOL

S.R. Tari¹, S. A. Gehrke² , A. Scarano¹ , A. Frisone¹, D. Tripodi¹, P. Lorusso³, P. Scarano¹

¹ Department of Innovative Technologies in Medicine and Dentistry, University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
² Universidad Católica de Murcia (UCAM), Murcia, Spain
³ University of Bari, Italy

Correspondence to:

Annals of Stomatology 2023 September-December; 3(3): 98-103
https://doi.org/10.69129/stomatol/2023v3iss3_6

Received: 18 August 2023 Accepted: 4 October 2023

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Abstract

Usually, dental implant and oral surgical procedures are performed outside of the operating room. Conscious sedation is a method in which the use of one or more drugs produces a state of depression of the central system (CNS) and euphoria with little effect on the respiratory system; verbal contact with the patient is maintained throughout sedation. Conscious sedation does not require intubation of the patient to maintain airway patency independently. It is a drug-induced depression of consciousness induced by drugs, during which the patient intentionally responds to light tactile stimulation and verbal commands. The level of sedation must be such that the patient remains conscious, maintains protective reflexes, and can understand and respond to tactile or verbal commands. Anxiolytics in dentistry are very important to achieve absolute patient cooperation. Nitrous oxide/oxygen (N₂O/O₂) inhalation is used for analgesia/anxiolysis as a safe and effective technique to manage pain and anxiety in dentistry. Nitrous oxide (N₂O) is a colorless, soluble gas with a sweet odor. So, anxiolytics with nitrous oxide can be used for the management of the patient undergoing oral surgery.

Keywords: analgesics, conscious sedation, nitrous oxide, Oral surgery