Paediatric dental chair sedation: a Gauteng-based pilot study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Procedural sedation and analgesia (PSA) is generally safe, and often necessary to successfully undertake dental procedures in children. Providing PSA in dental rooms avoids expenses generated by having to perform procedures in operating theatres, but this must not be done at the cost of patient safety. Although rare, severe adverse events that occur are usually preventable. Death and permanent neurological injury are unacceptable outcomes for healthy children being sedated for minor procedures. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to determine the proportion of dental practitioners making use of paediatric dental chair PSA in Gauteng, describe their PSA practice, and to determine adherence to recommended safety standards.