On 27 September 2025, the Society for the Advancement of Anaesthesia in Dentistry (SAAD) hosted its annual SAAD Symposium at the Royal Society of Medicine in London, bringing together dental professionals, anaesthetists, psychologists, and patient safety leaders for a comprehensive exploration of innovation, safety, and patient-centred care in dental sedation.

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This year's theme, ‘Advancing Safety and Care in Sedation: Innovation, Insights and Guidance' addressed both clinical advancements and the changing landscape of sedation and anxiety management in dentistry.

Attendees were treated to a rich and varied programme looking at the evolving clinical use of remimazolam by Jeena Patel and oral sedatives by Rob Emanuel and Brasanyaa Raveendran. Maryam Ismail and Jason Ho then expanded on the increasing popularity of weight loss drugs and the current literature around their effects on dental sedation.

Professor Tim Newton, Dr Jen Hare, Geanina Bruj-Milasan and Veronica Munzandi launched ‘The Toolkit: CBT for Dental Teams', the newly updated cognitive behavioural therapy resource specifically developed for integration into dental workflows by dental teams and now available from SAAD.

The changing national patient safety landscape and the implications for providers were highlighted by Claire Morgan, Consultant in Restorative Dentistry and Patient Safety Specialist, prior to Liz Jones, GIRFT Lead for Hospital Dentistry, providing an update on current findings from the national initiative focused on dental sedation services.

Ed Mcilroy, Royal College of Anaesthetists Airway Lead, highlighted insights in managing airway risks alongside Bryan Kerr, Consultant in Special Care, who reviewed intravenous sedation with propofol for dental care.

SAAD awarded essay, oral and poster prizes to teams from across the UK who showcased innovation in the use of remimazolam, digital patient information videos to aid anxiolysis and sedation preparation, and excellence in clinical care through direct access to care with sedation by dental therapists.

President of SAAD, Yi Loo, said: ‘This year's symposium demonstrated the strength and depth of collaboration across disciplines. From behavioural interventions to pharmacological updates, the programme reflected the nuances and complexity of modern sedation practice and the dedication of the professionals delivering it safely.'

For more information about SAAD's educational courses, resources, and events, visit www.saad.org.uk.