The Need and Use of Procedural Sedation and General Anesthesia in Dentistry

Abstract

Dental fear and anxiety are common problems in children and adolescents worldwide and are among the factors that prevent patients from accessing oral care. Management of dental fear and anxiety is complex and includes basic and advanced behavioral techniques, including Procedural Sedation and General Anesthesia. Dental fear and anxiety, the complexity of anticipated dental treatment, and poor cooperation are among the main indications for Procedural Sedation and General Anesthesia in Dentistry. Studies estimate that 7% of the general population will need complex dental sedation and show that the majority of the patients who received dental treatment under Procedural Sedation and General Anesthesia would again request it, and 50% of those study participants having high levels of dental fear and anxiety would go to the dental clinic more often if Procedural Sedation or General Anesthesia were offered. Here, in this article, we aim to review tools that are used to assess the need for Procedural Sedation and General Anesthesia in Dentistry, the attitudes of healthcare workers and the general population towards them, and compare the methodology used worldwide to the methodology that we will use in our study.