The implementation of conscious sedation by dental professionals in Egypt: an analytical cross-sectional study

Conscious sedation is widely considered one of the techniques most commonly used to manage anxiety in both children and adults during dental procedures. The application of procedural sedation exhibits considerable variation globally. The purpose of the study was to determine the prevalence of conscious sedation in the current situation in the dental healthcare sector in Egypt and to identify the factors influencing it. An online cross-sectional analytical survey, consisting of nine multiple choice questions, was distributed through the contact lists of national dentists and social media platforms. 163 respondents completed the survey. Regarding the use of conscious sedation, only 25 (15.3%),95% confidence interval (10-21) utilized it. The percentage of participants who used conscious sedation was higher among dentists practicing pediatric dental specialists (n = 19, 76%). Academic qualification correlates significantly with the practice of conscious sedation (P = 0.002), but this was not reflected in multiple logistic regression. Indeed, while conscious sedation is part of the dental study curriculum in Egypt, its application rate is relatively low compared to other countries. This discrepancy could be attributed to a variety of factors, including resource availability, lack of training, reflecting the need to develop strategies to improve the implementation of conscious sedation in Egyptian dental practices.