Conscious sedation in Mallorca
At Udemax Clinics we are specialists in conscious sedation, a technique used in patients with fear or phobia, which allows them to be relaxed and calm during their visit to the dentist.
The solution for patients with anxiety or phobia of the dentist
According to several studies, the main reasons why people do not visit the dentist are fear, phobias or previous bad experiences. And it is a very common problem in our society.
However, this problem of stress and anxiety directly affects the number of times the patient goes to the dentist. Generally, when there is a very serious oral health condition.
For this reason, with the aim of providing a solution to our patients so that they do not stop going to the dentist, we opt for the technique of conscious sedation in the performance of different dental treatments.
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What is conscious sedation?
Conscious sedation is a technique that facilitates the patient’s relationship during any type of intervention. This helps specialists to perform the treatment with ease, while the patient is in a conscious state but without feeling any pain and in a state of total tranquillity. This is a great application in dentistry as, although it does not treat the underlying problem, it allows those patients with fear to not feel anxiety during treatment.
On the other hand, in addition to sedation, it is essential that the specialist accompanies the patient from the beginning. In addition to this sedation technique, the information and treatment given to the patient is also important to help them understand the importance of seeing the dentist regularly. The prevention of any type of oral disease is just as important as the treatment to be carried out when the problem exists.
How does conscious sedation work?
Conscious sedation is applied by inhaling nitrous oxide with oxygen through a nasal mask. This technique produces a calming effect on the patient, which at the same time keeps them awake and able to communicate with the specialist at all times.
At the end of the dental treatment, pure oxygen is administered to the patient for 5 minutes so that the sedative effect disappears completely, although it is recommended that the patient be accompanied. Conscious sedation is a completely safe technique, which is also suitable for pregnant women.
Treatments that can be accompanied by conscious sedation
Although conscious sedation is a technique that can be requested for any treatment such as periodontal treatments and even those related to dental aesthetics and orthodontics, it is generally used more frequently in more complex dental procedures. That is to say, most patients request it for procedures such as:
Placement of dental implants
Today many patients turn to dental implantology as it is the most durable solution to improve the aesthetics and functionality of their teeth. In addition, conscious sedation makes the procedure more bearable, leaving stress and anxiety behind.
Oral and maxillofacial surgery
To treat problems with teeth, gums and jaw malformation, it is sometimes necessary to resort to surgery. Therefore, whether it is minor surgery or maxillofacial surgery, we can offer conscious sedation to mitigate the anxiety of the process.
Conservative and restorative dentistry
Although some dental conservation and restoration procedures are easily performed under local anaesthesia, there are patients with high anxiety who request conscious sedation as an alternative to undergo these procedures in total comfort.
Types of conscious sedation
The practitioner administering the sedation will choose the most appropriate system for the patient depending on the degree of dislike of the dentist and the duration of the dental treatment to be performed.
There are two methods of conscious sedation.
- Inhalation conscious sedation. In this case, the sedation is based on nitrous oxide and oxygen and is administered to the patient via the respiratory route. A mask will be the means by which the client will receive the gas mixture.
- Intravenous conscious sedation. In this case, sedation is received through an intravenous tube.
En ambos casos, la recuperación tras su aplicación es muy rápida. Una vez que e
In both cases, recovery after application is very rapid. Once the patient is free from the effects of sedation, the patient can return home, accompanied by someone they trust. As with other medications, the patient may not engage in risky activities in the hours following treatment (driving, use of machinery) or drink alcohol.
The technique of conscious sedation is not only useful in the case of patients suffering from odontophobia, but is also applied to patients with other pathologies that make it difficult for the patient to maintain the attention and stillness necessary for the application of the treatment, such as some intellectual or mental disabilities.
Benefits of conscious sedation
- It allows the patient to undergo the operation without stress as it reduces anxiety levels, achieving a degree of tranquillity and relaxation in an individualised manner.
- It is a completely safe technique as it is carried out by a specialised anaesthetist who controls the degree of sedation required and monitors the patient at all times.
- It does not have any side effects as it is a minimally invasive technique and is complemented by anaesthetic techniques so that the patient does not feel any discomfort during the operation.
Frequently asked questions about conscious sedation
The purpose of local anaesthesia applied by the dentist on other occasions is to numb an area of the body so that the patient does not feel touch or pain in the area, but it does not eliminate anxiety or relax the patient as conscious sedation does.
The most common treatments in which conscious sedation is requested are those in which it is necessary to perform a surgical intervention such as dental implants, but also in wisdom tooth extractions or root canals. However, any patient with no health anomalies who wishes to undergo an oral treatment can request conscious sedation in order to be more relaxed during the procedure.
The application of this technique requires specific infrastructure and machinery as well as a trained anaesthesiologist or dentist, which is why not all dental clinics have these resources. It must be taken into account that the anaesthesiologist must have the necessary tools to administer adequate sedation to the patient and to monitor the patient during the treatment being performed.
Triazolam is commonly used in dentistry, a drug that starts to produce effects 15 minutes after its application and produces what is known as anterograde amnesia. It is also possible to administer other drugs such as Lorazepam, Diazepam, Midazolam or Propofol, a currently widely used anaesthetic. Which one is finally chosen will depend on the specialist’s decision based on the patient’s medical history and the tests previously performed.
No, this type of technique is specially designed so that, in addition to a degree of consciousness on the part of the patient, the patient does not feel any pain or discomfort and has a feeling of well-being throughout the intervention. It is even possible to enter into a state of drowsiness or light sleep, although the patient would be able to respond to questions or indications made by the dentists who intervene in the procedure.
Conscious sedation specialists in Palma de Mallorca
Dr. Emilio Martínez-Almoyna Rullán
Doctor of Stomatology, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Bachelor's degree in Medicine. Specialist in Stomatology and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in Son Dureta. Doctorate in Cryosurgery of the Oral Cavity.
Dr. Emilio Martínez-Almoyna Rifá
Periodontics and postgraduate degree in Implantology.
Bachelor's degree in Medicine and Dentistry and Master's degree in Aesthetic Medicine. University expert in Periodontology and postgraduate degree in Implantology.
Dra. Cristina Martínez-Almoyna Rifá
Certified specialist in Invisalign and straight arch.
Bachelor's degree in Dentistry, Master's degree in Orthodontics and postgraduate degree in Paediatric Dentistry. Certified specialist in Invisalign and straight arch.
Dra. Patricia Jorro
Specialist in Cosmetic Dentistry and Teeth Whitening.
Bachelor's degree in Dentistry. Specialist in Cosmetic Dentistry and Teeth Whitening. Member of the American Dental Association with extensive experience.
Dr. Jose Antonio Gramallés
Postgraduate degree in Dental Prosthetics.
Bachelor's degree in Dentistry and Special Award in Conservative Dentistry. Postgraduate degree in Dental Aesthetics and Dental Prosthetics with extensive experience.
Dra. Maria Morro
Specialist in dental prosthetics.
Bachelor's degree in Dentistry and Master's degree in Paediatric Dentistry and Dentofacial Orthopaedics. Specialist in Cosmetic Dentistry and Dental Prosthetics.
Dra. Ana Ledesma
Paediatric Medicine and Dentistry
Bachelor's degree in Dentistry and Master's degree in Paediatric Dentistry and Dentofacial Orthopaedics. Specialist in dental implants and facial aesthetics.
Dr. Alfonso Bonnín
Surgery, periodontics, and implant rehabilitation.
Bachelor's degree in Dentistry, advanced degree in dental prosthetics, currently pursuing a master's degree in surgery, periodontics, and implant rehabilitation.
Dra. Cristina Mateu
Specialist in Conservative Dentistry
Bachelor's degree in Dentistry from ADEMA University. Specialist in Conservative Dentistry and University Expert in Endodontics with extensive experience.
Dr. Ángel Cabanes
Oncological surgery, advanced oral surgery and implantology
Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery. Specialist in Maxillofacial Surgery, Dental Implants and Facial Aesthetics.