Pain control--the team approach

The most important factors involved in administering sedation and anesthesia to patients undergoing dental treatment are good preoperative evaluation, a well equipped facility with all necessary equipment not only for the safe administration of drugs but also for resolving complications that may ensue, and a team of experts capable of working together smoothly and able to deal with any emergency. This care is possible in the office situation; however, we believe it is only achieved at great expense and with the underutilization of equipment as well as personnel. It may be, therefore, that the best way to achieve this goal is for dentists and anesthesiologists to work together in the hospital environment. Hopefully, an ever increasing number of dentists will be joining the staffs of hospitals so that these objections may be achieved simply and with maximal utilization of equipment and personnel.