Conscious Sedation for Dentistry by N. M. Girdler & C. M. Hill & K. E. Wilson

Author:N. M. Girdler & C. M. Hill & K. E. Wilson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-11-06T00:00:00+00:00

6

Principles and Practice of Inhalation Sedation

Introduction

Inhalation sedation is the safest form of sedation, due principally to the nature of nitrous oxide, which is almost universally used in this technique. The term ‘inhalation sedation’ describes the induction of a state of conscious sedation by administering sub‐anaesthetic concentrations of gaseous anaesthetic agents. Its most common application is in children’s dentistry, where it has been used successfully for many decades, but its use in adult dentistry is increasing. The favourable pharmacological properties of nitrous oxide make it the agent of choice for most inhalation sedation techniques.

Since its discovery in the eighteenth century, nitrous oxide has been the basic constituent of gaseous general anaesthesia, although it was not until the 1960s that it was more widely used in inhalation sedation. Harold Langa of the United States introduced the concept of ‘relative analgesia’, a specific type of inhalation sedation. This sedation uses variable mixtures of nitrous oxide and oxygen to induce a state of psycho‐pharmacological sedation.

Relative analgesia has now become the standard technique for inhalation sedation in dentistry. Other methods of inhalation sedation do exist, such as the use of fixed concentrations of nitrous oxide and oxygen (Entonox®) but these are not commonly used in dentistry.

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