title: Assessment of patients' awareness and factors influencing patients' demands for sedation in endodontics.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Endodontic therapy is perceived by many as a procedure to be feared. Many studies have reported that fear and anxiety are major deterrents to seeking dental care in general, but only a few deal with the use of sedation in endodontic therapies. The purpose of this study was to assess patients' awareness of and factors influencing the potential demand for sedation in endodontics. We hypothesized that there is an association between demographic factors and the demand for sedation in endodontics.
  
  
  METHODS
  A survey consisting of 24 questions was given to patients 18 years and older who presented to the graduate endodontic clinic. Results were collected and statistically analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-six percent of patients reported that their perception of sedation was being put to sleep, and 27% perceived it as related to or reducing pain. Concerns associated with endodontic therapy were the fear of pain (35%), fear of needles (16%), difficulty getting numb (10%), and anxiety (7%). The 2 major demographic factors that influenced the demand for sedation were cost and the level of anxiety (P < .05). Fifty-one percent showed a positive interest in sedation for endodontic therapy if the option of sedation was available.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The demand for sedation in endodontics is high. Patients' understanding of sedation varies. More patients would consider having endodontic procedures if sedation was available. The provision of sedation by endodontists could result in more patients accepting endodontic therapies.
authors.affiliation: Private Practice, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Yoo Kyeom
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Huh
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, School of Dental Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio. Electronic address: tam12@case.edu.
authors.forename: Thomas A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Montagnese
authors.affiliation: Center for Clinical Investigation, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio.
authors.forename: Jarrod
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Harding
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, School of Dental Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio.
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aminoshariae
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, School of Dental Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio.
authors.forename: Andre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mickel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000766:Anesthesia, Dental / Q000379:methods; D016292:Procedural Sedation / Q000379:methods*; D016854:Dental Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003729:Dental Care; D004708:Endodontics / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012390:Root Canal Therapy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Anxiety; endodontic therapy; fear; moderate sedation; questionnaire; root canal therapy