Sedation Medications and Pharmacology for Dental Use
Course Overview
The successful use of oral, inhalation, and intravenous medications for sedation dentistry is dependent upon the pharmacokinetics, which are unique for each patient. The absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination of any medication is variable among patients, and individual differences in any of these processes can have a profoundly beneficial or adverse effect upon the intended clinical outcome. This course will review these basic principles as they apply to the pharmacokinetics of some of the most common medications that are used in sedation dentistry. The use of any medication for sedation dentistry requires that dental clinicians have the requisite level of education and training, including the ability to provide an immediate response to emergencies such as oversedation, respiratory distress, and allergic reactions. The regulations and training requirements promulgated by individual dental boards about sedation dentistry vary by state. It is imperative that dental clinicians who utilize any form of sedation in dentistry have a complete understanding about how these requirements apply to themselves and their staff.
Learning Outcomes
Upon the completion of this course, the learner should be able to:
- Review the basic principles of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination of the medications used for dental sedation.
- List the most common oral medications used for minimal levels of dental sedation and describe the pharmacokinetics of each.
- Describe the use and the pharmacokinetics of nitrous oxide-oxygen inhalation sedation.
- Review the most common medications used for moderate levels of sedation and describe their pharmacokinetics.
- Understand the pharmacokinetics of the combined use of nitrous oxide-oxygen inhalation and medications from the benzodiazepine class of medications.
- Identify the most common intravenous medications used for deep dental sedation and their pharmacokinetics.
- Describe the guidelines used for general anesthesia of medically compromised patients.
- Understand the pharmacokinetics that are unique to pediatric patients and how this influences dental sedation.
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
