The report of the Intercollegiate Advisory Committee for Sedation in Dentistry creates a new national standard for conscious sedation.

With patient safety as its primary focus, the report makes recommendations about information for patients, training for the entire dental team, sedation techniques and the appropriate environment for sedation delivery.

There are some significant changes to previous guidance and Dental Protection has already received many enquiries, particularly about the suitability of the existing training of the team that is providing sedation.

Here is a brief summary of how you might respond to the report if you already offer sedation for dental treatment or are thinking about doing so.

1. If you  already practice sedation techniques and are confident that you satisfied  previous regulations

Refer to page 87 of the new document which discusses transitional arrangements. This introduces the need to introduce logging all cases undertaken with comprehensive details of each case. In addition check the following aspects of your sedation training:

• Validated CPD
• Regular audit and reflection
• Competence in rescue skills
• Meet requirements for environment and equipment described in Care Pathway.
• Ensure appropriate clinical governance is in place.

2. If  you already practice sedation but are not sure that you  satisfied  the  previous regulations

Consider all presentable previous theoretical and clinical training and reflect on whether it would be sufficiently robust to present to GDC should that be necessary.

• If that is not the case you might wish to consider yourself new to sedation and engage with the new guidelines.
• Help to make such a decision can be sought from a local postgraduate deanery, or an organisation such as SAAD. 

As you might expect, Dental Protection is not able to act as an arbiter on clinical matters.

3. If you are new to sedation and wish to begin sedation practice

• Refer to the new sedation guidelines.
• You will need to complete and be assessed on an accredited course. As yet the accreditation scheme is not in place and it may take a while to be established.  It would make sense to ask the course organisers if their course meets the requirements for accreditation and if it will be accredited.

Members are welcome to contact the dentolegal advisory team if further assistance is required.

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