Demand in Pediatric Dentistry for Sedation and General Anesthesia by Dentist Anesthesiologists: A Survey of Directors of Dentist Anesthesiologist and Pediatric Dentistry Residencies

Abstract

This study describes what training programs in pediatric dentistry and dental anesthesiology are doing to meet future needs for deep sedation/general anesthesia services required for pediatric dentistry. Residency directors from 10 dental anesthesiology training programs in North America and 79 directors from pediatric dentistry training programs in North America were asked to answer an 18-item and 22-item online survey, respectively, through an online survey tool.The response rate for the10 anesthesiology training program directors was 9 of 10 or 90%.The response rate for the 79 pediatric dentistry training program directors was 46 of 79 or 58%.Thirty-seven percent of pediatric dentistry programs use clinic-based deep sedation/general anesthesia for dental treatment in addition to hospital-based deep sedation/general anesthesia. Eighty-eight percent of those programs use dentist anesthesiologists for administration of deep sedation/general anesthesia in a clinic-based setting. Pediatric dentistry residency directors perceive a future change in the need for deep sedation/general anesthesia services provided by dentist anesthesiologists to pediatric dentists: 64% anticipate an increase in need for dentist anesthesiologist services, while 36% anticipate no change. Dental anesthesiology directors compared to 2, 5, and 10 years ago have seen an increase in the requests for dentist anesthesiologist services by pediatric dentists reported by 56% of respondents (past 2 years),63% of respondents (past 5 years), and 88% of respondents (past10 years), respectively. Predicting the future need of dentist anesthesiologists is an uncertain task, but these results show pediatric dentistry directors and dental anesthesiology directors are considering the need, and they recognize a trend of increased need for dentist anesthesiologist services over the past decade.

A Comparison of Fospropofol to Midazolam for Moderate Sedation During Outpatient Dental Procedures

“…12 The results generated from this study support the use of fospropofol as an alternative to midazolam for IV moderate sedation during dental surgeries. Fospropofol, when administered by a dentist anesthesiologist, appears to confer some advantages over the traditionally used benzodiazepine, most notably producing a somewhat faster recovery time.…”

General dentists’ awareness of how to cope with medical emergencies in paediatric dental patients

“…First‐aid procedures and administration of medications are adjusted depending on the age and physical development of the child. In the younger age group, ( < 12 year of age) anxiety and dental phobia are more pronounced as risk factors for emergencies. Treatment under general anaesthesia or under intravenous or inhalation sedation can contribute to an emergency situation in the dental office.…”

Assessment of Patients' Awareness and Factors Influencing Patients' Demands for Sedation in Endodontics

“…Previous studies have reported the need and demand for sedation in the United States and other countries (2,7,9,22). Tools to evaluate the need for sedation in individual patients are available, but they do not address the demands of the patient (23,24).…”