Conscious Sedation in Dentistry

(published May 2006)

'Conscious Sedation in Dentistry', the first SDCEP guidance, was published in May 2006 and can be downloaded in pdf form. If you would like a paper copy of the guidance, please contact the Programme Development Team.

Background

The provision of adequate anxiety control is an integral part of the practice of dentistry. Since 1998 there has been a sea change in the provision of pain and anxiety management in dentistry in the UK. This has resulted in an increased emphasis on the safe provision of conscious sedation instead of a reliance on general anaesthesia that is demand led. General anaesthesia should only be provided in response to clinical need. The publication of 'A Conscious Decision' in 2000 resulted in the cessation of general anaesthesia for dentistry in the primary care setting. This took effect in April 2001 in Scotland.

The present guidance has been produced by a group of professionals with a particular interest and experience in dental sedation. The guidance is an evolution of the report by a subgroup of the Standing Dental Advisory Committee (SDAC) and extends the advice for dentistry provided in Guideline 58 prepared by the Scottish Intercollegiate Guideline Network (SIGN). We gratefully acknowledge the work of both these organisations. The guidance aims to identify good practice and the level of supporting evidence that informs the recommendations made.

Future Updating of the Guidance

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is currently developing guidance on sedation in infants, children and young people. This is expected to be published in 2010. In view of this, rather than commence updating the SDCEP guidance in 2008 as previously indicated, this will now take place following publication of the NICE guidance. At that time, all aspects of the context of the SDCEP guidance will be reviewed (regulations, legislation, trends in working practices and evidence) and if this has changed significantly the guidance will be updated accordingly.

For further information about the development of this guidance, please contact the SDCEP office (scottishdental.cep@nes.scot.nhs.uk).

Guidance Development Group  

Name	Details
Dr Nigel Robb (Chair)	Senior Lecturer in Sedation in Relation to Dentistry and Honorary Consultant in Restorative Dentistry, University of Glasgow Dental School.
Mr Barry Corkey	Senior Community Dentist and Specialist in Paediatric Dentistry, Community Dental Service, Fife.
Dr Tom Cripps	Consultant Anaesthetist and Associate Medical Director (Clinical Governance), Borders General Hospital, Melrose.
Dr Chris Deery	Consultant in Paediatric Dentistry, Edinburgh Dental Institute.
Mrs Karin Laidlaw	Senior Community Dental Nurse, Special Care and Sedation, Lothian Salaried Primary Care Dental Service.
Mrs Avril Macpherson	Senior Community Dentist, Special Care and Sedation, Lothian Salaried Primary Care Dental Service.
Mr Harry Robertson	General Dental Practitioner with a special interest in pain and anxiety management, Paisley.

Page last edited: 11 November 2008