Sedation is a medical procedure involving the administration of sedative drugs, generally to facilitate a medical procedure with local anaesthesia.

Sedation is now typically used in dentistry for reconstructive surgery, some cosmetic surgeries, removal of wisdom teeth, or for high-anxiety patients. Sedation methods in dentistry include inhalation sedation (using nitrous oxide), oral sedation, and intravenous (IV) sedation.

Sedation is also used extensively in the intensive care unit so that patients who are being ventilated tolerate having an endotracheal tube in their trachea.

Sedation is often recommended for "severe dental phobia". However, there is no consensus as to what constitutes a "severe" phobia. Scores on dental phobia tests bear little or no correlation to the need for (or desirability of) sedation. As a rule-of-thumb, sedation can be useful

Pros Cons..