Key Points
-
This paper has demonstrated that the GKT Diploma in dental sedation has enabled practitioners to develop and use operator sedation techniques in dental practice.
-
Students who have attended the course have shown a commitment to training others and a team approach to the provision of sedation.
-
Students demonstrated the value of sedation in the provision of all aspects of dental care.
-
The study identified a need for a clinical mentored training program at an interim level between the diploma course and a short two day course.
-
The use of sedation techniques by students in the community dental services has helped to provide a valuable strategy of pain and anxiety management in response to problems resulting from the reduction of general anaesthetic services in the community.
Abstract
Aims and objectives: The use of sedation in the management of pain and anxiety for the provision of dental care is as vital to the dental profession as are windscreen wipers to a motor vehicle. Not for use on every patient or every occasion, but in times of need to wipe away the tears, and essential for effective work. Training in sedation techniques should be a part of the undergraduate curriculum, and postgraduate opportunities need to be developed to support this important aspect of care. This paper examines a particular training course provided within the Department of Sedation and Special Care Dentistry at GKT Dental Institute, King's College London, leading to the Diploma in Conscious Sedation for Dentistry (Dip.D.Sed). The aim of this study was to investigate what impact the course has had on the practice of sedation. Three objectives were defined: 1) Students' evaluation of the course; 2) Students' practice in sedation prior to and on completion of the course; 3) Students' involvement in sedation training of dentists or dental nurses following completion of the course.
Method: Information was obtained by postal questionnaire from students who had attended the course since its inception in 1997 to 2000.
Results: 30 students completed and returned the questionnaire which represented a 100% response. There was an overall expression of satisfaction from students on the course content and the experience they had obtained. The range of experience was 70–100 treatment episodes over 40 clinical sessions. An increase in both the practice of sedation and the involvement in training (dental nurses and dentists) was also shown. The greatest clinical change was the increase in use of intravenous sedation by the students from the community dental service.
Conclusion and recommendation: This study concluded that the objectives of the course had been achieved. The importance of providing training that enables the safe and effective provision of sedation within primary care as an operator sedationist was strengthened by this study. The value of an intermediate level between the two day section 63 course and the six month diploma course was suggested by students in this study. The development of a clinical attachment based on The Standard Course in Conscious Sedation was proposed as a possible option to fill the gap. The provision of postgraduate training in sedation is limited particularly in some areas of the UK. This problem should be addressed by increasing the opportunity for postgraduate training in sedation by dental schools and postgraduate deaneries. Work towards increasing the funding and opportunities for training in this important area of care needs to be undertaken.
Log in or create a free account to read this content
Gain free access to this article, as well as selected content from this journal and more on nature.com
or
References
General Dental Council. Maintaining standards. 1997, revised 2001.
Department of Health. A conscious decision; Report of an expert group chaired by the chief medical and dental officer. London: Department of Health, 2000.
General Dental Council. Section 60 order amending the dentists act (1984), 2002.
The Standing Dental Advisory Committee. General anaesthesia, sedation and resuscitation in dentistry,report of an expert working party. (The Postwillo Report) 1990.
UK Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and Faculties. Report of an intercollegiate working party chaired by the Royal College of Anaesthetists. Implementing and ensuring safe sedation practice for healthcare procedures in adults. 2001.
Department of Health. Guidelines for conscious sedation in the provision of dental care. A consultation paper from the Standing Dental Advisory Committee. London: Department of Health, 2002
Dental Sedation Teachers Group. Sedation in dentistry. Undergraduate training. Guidance for teachers 9, 1999.
Dental Sedation Teachers Group. Sedation in dentistry. The competent graduate. 2000.
Faculties of Dental Surgery and General Dental Practitioners. Royal College of Surgeons of England. Report of the joint faculties' working party on sedation. London, 1996.
Department of Health. Standards in conscious sedation for dentistry. Report of an independent working group. London: Department of Health, 2000.
McGlone P, Watt R, Sheiham A . Evidence-based dentistry: an overview of the challenges in changing professional practice. Br Dent J 2001; 190: 636–639.
Department of Sedation and Special Care Dentistry, GKT Dental Institute, King's College London. Diploma in conscious sedation for dentistry.
Department of Health England and Wales(NCCPED). The standard course in conscious sedation, 2001.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Refereed Paper
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Little, J., Manley, M. & Craig, D. The GKT diploma in dental sedation — A judgement. Br Dent J 197, 337–341 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.4811653
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.4811653
