EC Dental Science

Background: Conscious sedation is a valuable approach to address anxious patients and treat them with the utmost comfort level. The use of intravenous conscious sedation in dentistry has gained significant popularity over the last decades to help manage pain and anxiety in the dental office setting for practitioners providing moderate sedation in the offices, it is imperative that they are knowledgeable about guidelines and are adequately trained to safely administer moderate sedation.

Aim and Objective: This study aims to assess the knowledge, awareness and practice of conscious sedation and general anaesthesia for routine dental procedures among dental practitioners.

Materials and Methods: This questionnaire based study was conducted in the form of an online survey. Sample size comprised of 1200 dental practitioners. The study was a questionnaire based survey consisting of 18 questions. The self-administered questionnaire was based on demographic data and based on the knowledge, awareness and practice of conscious sedation and general anaesthesia for routine dental procedures among dental practitioners. The survey questionnaire was designed based on the previous questionnaire studies conducted by Academy of General Dentistry and American Dental Association.

Results: The results showed that only 24.5% of the participants chose to use conscious sedation when dealing with anxious patients. Also 63.8% if dental practitioners responded that majority of dental patients cancel or avoid dental appointments because of fear or anxiety during treatment. 98.3% of the practitioners were aware that conscious sedation brings a partial; loss of consciousness with response to verbal and physical stimulus. However, 27.3% dental practitioners need proper training for providing the sedation to patients in their dental office.

Conclusion: Within the limits of this study it can be concluded that there is a moderate level of awareness regarding practice of conscious sedation among dental practitioners. The current study also helps to identify the possible limitations and barriers to the provision of sedation and general anaesthesia in dental practice.

Keywords: Dental Anxiety; Conscious Sedation; General Anaesthesia; Dental Procedures; Dental Practitioners

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