Principles of Inhalation Sedation course for Dental Practice

This session describes the principles of inhalation sedation for the anxious dental patient, including indications for use, advantages and disadvantages, patient assessment and administration for dental treatment. It also highlights the management of sedation-related complications.

Learning objectives

By the end of this session you will be able to:

• list the indications and contraindications for inhalation sedation
• list the advantages and disadvantages of inhalation sedation
• describe the patient management process for inhalation sedation
• explain how to administer inhalation sedation to a dental patient
• explain how over sedation should be managed

Inhalation sedation with nitrous oxide and oxygen is one of the recognised standard techniques of conscious sedation in the UK. It is easy to administer, has a wide safety margin, a rapid onset and recovery and is well accepted by the majority of patients.