Attitudes to conscious sedation in patients attending an emergency dental clinic.
BACKGROUND
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Allen
Edith M
EM
Department of Restorative Dentistry, Cork University Dental Hospital, Cork, Republic of Ireland. e.allen@ucc.ie
Girdler
Nick M
NM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000766:Anesthesia, Dental / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D016292:Procedural Sedation / Q000523:psychology*; D016854:Dental Anxiety / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003729:Dental Care / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003740:Dental Clinics; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires