Intravenous sedation--can you practise with it? Can you practise without it?

Intravenous sedation is a vital element in the practice of dentistry and in particular it is a means for anxious patients who otherwise may be unable to accept treatment to undergo procedures comfortably. To practise with intravenous sedation it is necessary for the practitioner to undergo further training such as is provided by the Diploma in Clinical Dentistry (Conscious Sedation and Pain Control) within the University of Sydney. Further, it requires a philosophic commitment to the understanding of the patient's anxieties. Intravenous Sedation is also suitable for the longer procedures and oral surgery. If practising without sedation the dentist should nevertheless be sensitive to situations where treatment can be more effectively and comfortably carried out with this modality, and support the efforts within the profession to uphold the ability to provide this service safely and within the appropriate guidelines.