Overview of Dental Sedation
Course Overview
The purpose of this course is to review the various sedation protocols that are utilized to successfully treat patients who would not otherwise be able to receive dental care. It is mandatory that dental clinicians who provide any level of sedation for their patients have received a commensurate level of training for a given sedation protocol. State and local laws vary about the training requirements for the dental clinician and staff, for the monitoring of patients during sedation, and for the appropriate level of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) required for advanced levels of sedation. Further, state and local laws can require permits for the equipment that is used to provide sedation and can mandate their periodic inspections to assure safety. It is imperative that clinicians remain aware of the changes in the laws, regulations and the training requirements that govern dental sedation and promote patient safety.
Learning Outcomes
Upon the completion of this course, the learner should be able to:
- Identify the varied needs of dental patients for which sedation is necessary.
- Define the characteristics of the varying levels of sedation used for dental patients.
- Review the medications and protocols used for minimal sedation (anxiolysis).
- Understand the pharmacology of nitrous oxide—oxygen inhalation sedation.
- Describe the medications and protocols used for moderate sedation.
- List the medications and protocols used for deep sedation.
- Understand the principles of general anesthesia use for dental patients.
- Identify the special concerns for the sedation of pediatric dental patients.
About the Author/Presenter
Mark J. Szarejko, DDS, FAGD, received his dental degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1985 and Fellowship in the Academy of General Dentistry in 1994. He has been in private practice for 16 years, with the balance involved in Correctional (county jail) Dentistry, from which he retired in 2023. In 2007, he received the Certified Correctional HealthCare Professional (CCHP) designation from the National Commission of Correctional Healthcare. He has authored and edited many dental continuing education courses and has given presentations on varied topics to local, regional, and national audiences. He has been an examiner for the dental and dental hygiene licensure exams?for the Northeastern Regional Boards (NERBS), now the American Board of Dental Examiners, since 1994. He has also reviewed standard of care cases for the state of Florida and for private companies.
Audience/Accreditations and Approvals
TRC Healthcare/ NetCE
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by TRC Healthcare/ NetCE. TRC Healthcare/NetCE is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
This course is designed for the following healthcare professions (select your profession for details):
Dental AGD Code: 340
If you require special accommodations, please contact Colibri Healthcare Support by clicking here: Contact Us
