How much do you know about dental sedation? If you, a child, or loved one is contemplating having anesthesia for an upcoming dental appointment, then you need to know all you can about safety.
Who will be doing the dental procedures, the anesthesia, monitor your vital signs, observe you until after the treatment, and check on you after you’ve gone home? How safe is it to have the dentist do both the procedure and the anesthesia?
The American Association of Nurse Anesthetists explains how, “CRNAs: Promote Dental Anesthesia Safety“.
Dental sedation and anesthesia safe outcomes are best achieved when provided by a healthcare professional, whose only responsibility is the anesthetic management and monitoring of the patient, and a proceduralist whose specific focus is on the procedure.
Safety should always be a priority for both the dentist and patient. Like any type of sedation, there are guidelines set forth by the American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. IV sedation affects the central nervous system (and therefore consciousness), it is required to have trained personnel to monitor breathing and vital signs.
Deep sedation and general anesthesia for dental procedures is safest when provided by a qualified, licensed anesthesia professional, who is not simultaneously engaged in the dental procedure. When sedation or anesthesia services are required, the use of anesthesia professionals, with delineated responsibilities, allows each team member to focus on his or her role for best outcomes and patient safety.
Just like in a medical situation where the doctor has a separate anesthesiologist, the dentist should have a separate Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). This way the dentist can concentrate on the procedure, while the CRNA monitors the vital signs, breathing, and is thoroughly trained for emergency situations.
Through a holistic, patient-centered approach, CRNAs advocate for patient safety throughout every procedure, including dental sedation and anesthesia. CRNAs are experts in sedation and anesthesia delivery, pain management, advanced airway management, shared airway, hemodynamic and physiologic monitoring, and emergency management. CRNAs promote all aspects of office-based practice safety
Blue Sky Solutions Anesthesia Associates has helped many patients in New Hampshire, bringing hospital level sedation to your dental office. As a leader in anesthesia provider, Blue Sky Solutions partners with some of the top rated dentist in cities such as, Barrington, Concord, Amherst, Nashua, Rochester, and Dover.
