JIDAM
"An Official Journal of IDA - Madras
Branch" ©2019.
Department of Public Health Dentistryz,
Thai Moogambigai Dental College and Hospital Chennai, Tamilnadu
BACKGROUND: Dental professionals work effectively and efficiently to impart a positive behavioral attitude towards dental treatment in children with oral health care needs. The main objective of sedation in pediatric dentistry is to reduce fear, minimize physical discomfort and control behavior for dental procedures. The present study was carried out to evaluate the knowledge, attitude and practices of dental students and practitioners towards conscious sedation. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among 384 dental professionals that included undergraduate, postgraduate dental students and dental practitioners across Tamil Nadu, India. The data was collected through self-constructed questionnaires consisting of 28 questions in English and circulated via online platform on account of COVID-19 pandemic. Every respondent was informed of the purpose of the study and participation was purely voluntary. RESULTS: The mean age of the study participants was found to be 25.99 ± 12.34 years (mean ± S.D) comprising of 184 (48%) males and 200 (52%) females. Majority of the study participants acquired knowledge about conscious sedation through dental curriculum only. About 46.1% considered conscious sedation over general anesthesia for all dental procedures like restoration, scaling, minor bone fractures and minor surgeries, 40.1% preferred midazolam and 78.4% recommend Nitrous oxide sedation as effective technique. Most of the study participants believed oral sedation was easier to administer, required less expertise and skill with minimal or no complication. CONCLUSION: This study reveals lacunae in adequate knowledge and understanding among the practitioners. The result of this study thus provides an insight on need for strategies like incorporating guidelines in dental curriculum, organizing continuing dental education programs and workshops to provide knowledge and incorporate positive attitude among the dental professionals to offer effective conscious sedation in children necessitating oral health care.
Dental anxiety, Midazolam, Pediatric dentistry, general
1 JIDAM/Volume:8/Issue:3/Pages 93-100/July-Sep 2021