Conscious Sedation
Intravenous conscious sedation allows patients to undergo dental procedures—even extensive or complex ones—in a pleasant and stress-free manner, without suffering the side effects or assuming the risks of a full general anesthesia procedure.
At our dental clinic in Valencia, we have been offering this technique to our patients for many years. This gives us the necessary experience to explain both its indications and benefits.
What does conscious sedation involve?
Conscious sedation involves bringing the patient into a controlled state of depressed consciousness through the use of medication, while keeping their reflexes intact, with all the advantages that this entails.
In other words, the patient is able to respond to verbal stimuli (which is very useful if their cooperation is required during treatment), it eliminates feelings of unease, and produces mild amnesia, meaning the patient will not accurately remember the specific details of the procedure.
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Two major benefits of this treatment
Thus, the two fundamental effects of conscious sedation become its greatest benefits. On one hand, the elimination of feelings of tension and unease turns the dental procedure into a calm and pleasant experience. On the other hand, amnesia prevents the patient from remembering the details of the intervention, which could otherwise cause apprehension or tension in the future. All of this is achieved while the patient remains capable of interacting with the specialist throughout the process.
Furthermore, it contributes to analgesia by enhancing the effects of local anesthetics, while simultaneously minimizing patient behaviors—such as movement or resistance—that can hinder treatment. All of this is achieved with minimal side effects.
These effects have led to several indications for intravenous conscious sedation in dentistry, and its use is steadily increasing. A key indication is using sedation to facilitate long and/or complex procedures for both the patient and the professional.
Conscious sedation is becoming increasingly popular during dental implant placement. Its application, alongside local anesthesia, guarantees the patient’s well-being and eliminates the anxiety generated by undergoing a procedure they may already be familiar with.
Intravenous conscious sedation applied to dental implants
Among the advantages of conscious sedation in the field of Implantology, it is worth highlighting the convenience of placing all implants in a single session without pain, turning the treatment into a shorter and more pleasant experience.
In cases of full-mouth rehabilitations on multiple implants—a process characterized by its long duration—placing dental implants under conscious sedation is especially useful and advantageous.
Conscious sedation is also a highly effective tool for overcoming dental phobia.
Dentophobia, or dental phobia, is a relatively widespread phenomenon consisting of an irrational and persistent fear of visiting the dentist. Thanks to the conscious sedation method, this unjustified fear can be successfully managed.
The danger of this phobia is that it can lead to the worsening of oral health issues, as patients may refuse to see a professional for treatment. It is important to consider alternatives to address this problem.
Similarly, intravenous conscious sedation is very useful for uncooperative patients, such as children or patients with psychological conditions.
Sedation allows multiple dental procedures to be performed on these patients in a single session with precision and safety. Conscious sedation is always performed by a medical anesthesiologist. At our dental clinic in Valencia, we collaborate with Dr. Maite Bovaira, an anesthesiologist with extensive experience in intravenous conscious sedation applied to dentistry.
Before undergoing conscious sedation, the patient must be evaluated by the medical anesthesiologist, who will request the relevant tests to ensure there are no risks. Additionally, patients must follow certain mandatory requirements, such as arriving on an empty stomach (fasting) and adhering to the guidelines for fluid and meal intake once the procedure is completed.
In conclusion, conscious sedation has proven to provide significant advantages for dental specialists, particularly in the fields of oral surgery and implantology, and its implementation is already standard practice in the best dental clinics in Valencia.
Dr. Maite Bovaira Forner is a medical anesthesiologist specialized in chronic pain management, with extensive experience in intravenous sedation for oral surgery.
She has been the Head of Section and Director of the Pain Unit at the Hospital Intermutual de Levante since 2011. She is accredited by the World Institute of Pain as an advanced-level interventionist in chronic pain.
She earned her Fellowship in Interventional Pain Practice (FIPP) in Budapest in 2007. She has an extensive catalog of scientific publications on chronic pain and is a frequent speaker at the country’s leading scientific societies.
She served as the president of the Iberian section of the World Institute of Pain (2011-13). Alongside Dr. Miguel Peñarrocha, she has vast experience in treating facial pain, performing the most cutting-edge interventions in this field.
She has been responsible for performing intravenous sedation at the clinic for over 20 years, in a surgical environment equipped with all the necessary facilities to ensure maximum safety.
Sedation allows the patient to remain relaxed, with their vital signs—such as blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen saturation—closely monitored and controlled. The patient is calmer, experiences less bleeding, and remembers virtually nothing unpleasant.
The surgeon can work more comfortably and efficiently, ensuring that complications are minimized. All of these factors have led to a growing demand for sedation services within the clinic.
Your first visit at IDIM.
We are committed to excellence and transparency. Your first visit includes a comprehensive examination, a confirmed clinical diagnosis, and a personalized session to address all your questions.
As this is a specialized professional consultation, there is a fee associated with the appointment. We will inform you of the cost in advance, ensuring you receive the detailed, high-quality care that your health deserves.
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