Attitudes to Conscious Sedation in Patients Attending an Emergency Dental Clinic

Authors: Edith M. Allen1; Nick M. Girdler2

Source: Primary Dental Care, Volume 12, Number 1, January 2005 , pp. 27-32(6)

Publisher: Faculty of General Dental Practice (UK)

Free trial available!
Key:
Free Content - Free Content
New Content - New Content
Subscribed Content - Subscribed Content
Free Trial Content - Free Trial Content

Abstract:

Introduction: Anxiety and fear in relation to dentistry are long-standing problems and the incidence of dental fear does not appear to be decreasing. It can result in poor dental health and wastage of clinical time. Conscious sedation is one method of allaying anxiety in dental patients and enables such patients to accept dental treatment.

Aims, Materials and Methods: A questionnaire survey was undertaken among patients attending an emergency dental clinic. Its aims were to assess the levels of dental anxiety in these subjects, the impact on their attendance for dental treatment, and their knowledge of and desire to have conscious sedation, should it be available.

Results: The results indicated that in the 72 patients who responded, levels of anxiety regarding dental treatment were high, with 49 (68%) claiming some nervousness or worse. Thirty-one (43%) cited fear/nervousness as a reason for delaying making a dental appointment. Twenty-seven (38%) were not aware of the existence of conscious sedation for dental treatment, of whom half reported that they were in the highly anxious group. Forty (56%) respondents said they would like to have sedation if it were available. Twenty-five (35%) claimed to have received sedation for dental treatment in the past.

Conclusion: It was concluded that the availability of dental sedation was currently not matching the needs and demands of several patients who took part in the survey. Increased availability of dental sedation could remove a barrier to dental care for many highly anxious dental patients.

Keywords: DENTAL ANXIETY; BARRIERS TO DENTAL CARE; DENTAL SEDATION

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1308/1355761052894149

Affiliations: 1: Department of Restorative Dentistry, Cork University Dental Hospital, Cork, Republic of Ireland 2: Department of Sedation, Newcastle Dental School, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

The full text article is available for purchase

$33.35 plus tax

 

OR

Or sign up for a free trial

Back to top

Key:
Free Content - Free Content
New Content - New Content
Subscribed Content - Subscribed Content
Free Trial Content - Free Trial Content
Page Help Click here for Page Help
Shopping cart
Tools
Sign in






Need to register?
Sign up here
Text size: A | A | A | A