A review is made of the utility of iatrosedation and pharmacological sedation in the dental treatment of elderly patients. The adoption of such measures is required due to the increased prevalence of oral pathology, poorer stress tolerance and frequent association of systemic disease in such patients. A description is made of the recommended psychoactive drug administration routes according to the associated pathology and of the most frequent pharmacological interactions with the background disease. Drug sedation should always be accompanied by psychological measures to minimize the required drug dose, and by correct locoregional anesthesia.