Alignment of Sedation Training and Current Practices in Pediatric Dentistry

Purpose: To assess the current sedation practices among pediatric dentistry residents who completed their training from a children???s teaching hospital to align training methods for current residents. Methods: Using Standards for Quality Improvement Reporting Excellence guidelines, residency graduates were surveyed on current sedation practices. Information collected included demographics, year of residency completion, education experience, type of sedation medications used during residency and currently, emergency protocols, participation in continuing education courses, barriers to the provision of sedation, and clinical protocols. Descriptive statistics were completed, and information was utilized to update current sedation training protocols. Results: Fifty-four of 90 possible former residents responded, for a response of 60 percent. Thirteen respondents (24 percent) currently perform moderate sedation. Predominant sedation medication preferences have shifted from chloral hydrate to midazolam, meperidine, and hydroxyzine through the years. Conclusions: Feedback from previous learners and continual assessment of educational programs can help to align education with unsupervised practice after graduation. Changing trends in sedation practices highlight the crucial significance that residency program sedation curriculum and continuing education courses meet the needs of patients, thereby upholding a high standard of patient safety.