Dental sedation teaching in the United Kingdom and Ireland

Objectives: Follow-up study to assess and compare, the quantity and quality of dental Undergraduate teaching in conscious sedation in the dental schools of the UK and Ireland, with comparisons to a previous study published in 2000. Methods: Questionnaires were designed to collect information about undergraduate sedation education from teaching staff and final year dental undergraduates at the 15 dental schools in the UK and Ireland. The survey was undertaken during April – May 2001. Results: Staff responses from nine schools (60%) and student responses from eleven schools (73 %) were received. Eight of the dental schools had staff responses from both studies. The mean (range) number of lectures given was 7.25 (3 – 11), and the mean (range) number of seminars given was 1.5 (0-5). From the students' responses, the mean (range) number of cases observed in inhalational sedation was seven (0-17) and the mean (range) number performed in inhalational sedation was four (0-8). The mean (range) number of cases observed in intravenous sedation was nine (2-19), and the mean (range) number performed was five (0-8). From the staff's responses, the mean (range) number of cases in inhalational sedation was three observed (0-8) and four performed (0-8.) The mean (range) number of intravenous cases observed was eight (0-40) and performed was four (0-7.) Conclusion: The results show that since the previous study there has been an increase in didactic teaching. There has been a decrease in the observing of inhalational cases, but an increase in the hands on performance of this type of sedation. There is an increase in the hands on teaching of intravenous sedation Some aspects of the teaching of dental sedation are improving, however not enough to be in line with current guidelines.