In promoting safety during dental procedures, many dentists in New Hampshire are following suite with Alberta who have barred, “the single operator model of simultaneously providing deep sedation or general anesthesia and dental treatment.”
“The new policy comes after five-year-old Amber Athwal suffered brain damage last September after being put under general anesthesia at an Edmonton dental clinic,” according to the Global News.
Four year old Amber Athwal, received anesthesia for a dental procedure. The dentist was under the single operator model, which means he did both the dental work and provided the anesthesia at the same time. After Amber stop breathing during the procedure, she was left with permanent brain damage.
A teacher at the University of British Columbia, Michael Dare, who also operates a private company that trains dentist in emergency care, said that to “have someone tunnel visioning in on surgery while also trying to maintain the breathing of the patient is a disaster waiting to happen.”
Children and younger patients are at a higher risk of slipping into a deeper state of sedation and complications. It takes special training, that which a nurse anesthetist receives, to recognize obstructed airways and what signs to look out for, and how to intervene before the patients oxygen levels drop, which leads to severe consequences.
It is impossible to focus on both the dental procedure and safe sedation, by the time the dentist notices a problem, it could be too late.
An extensive review process by the Dental Board of California (DBC), showed significant scientific evidence that the single operator-anesthetist model is putting our children and young adults an an unnecessary risk. There is no evidence that this model can be safe.
Blue Sky Solutions we support safe dentistry sedation
We bring hospital-level sedation to your dentist’s office. Our #1 goal is patient safety and satisfaction because we care for you, like we would our family.
Our expectations are high and yours should be too when choosing to have sedation for your dental procedure. You deserve to have individual attention and an experienced nurse anesthetist providing your sedation whose only concern is monitoring you or your loved one.
Contact Blue Sky Solutions for an appointment and more information.
