Background: Geriatric and special care dentistry (GSD) involves oral health care for seniors and individuals with disabilities. Due to ethical issues, finances, waiting times, treatment versatility and so on, conscious sedation (CS) may have a place to optimise the delivery of care. Objectives: This article identifies considerations for implementing CS in GSD services in Singapore. Methods: Taking the form of a health policy brief, this review (a) defines the situation for patients with special-care needs and justified the need for dental CS, (b) makes reference to practices from countries with established dental CS services, (c) states and evaluates available CS techniques for the GSD centre in Singapore and (d) discusses action plans and considerations for implementation. Results: Demographic analysis revealed that 23.8% of the GSD patients could have benefitted from CS, or 44.7% of all patients who required behavioural management. The key advantages of CS included enhanced safety, more teeth saved and a reduction in general anaesthesia wait, amongst others. Conventional dental CS techniques included midazolam via various routes, nitrous oxide and ketamine. To establish a CS service, key points of consideration need to be conceptualised first, such as adequate training, perception of patients and providers, operational costs, facilities and developing guidance specific for oral health professionals. Conclusion: A local CS service will be beneficial for GSD patients in view of the challenges faced. A group of experts and stakeholders is needed to provide practical consensus.

This article considers the clinical implications of cardiomyopathy and how it impacts on the provision of oral care. Consideration is given to the management of pain and anxiety in this patient group and the provision of safe, effective care. CPD/Clinical Relevance: With an increasingly ageing population, dentists should have the knowledge to safely assess and treat medically compromised patients.