Use of nitrous oxide sedation by pediatric dentists: a cross-sectional study of the Jordanian experience

Background: Children’s fear and anxiety may lead to behavioral management problems which could prevent the provision of successful dental treatment.Nitrous Oxide (N2O) sedation facilitates the provision of dental treatment by reducing anxiety. Aims: To survey the Jordanian pediatric dentists and determine the current status of N2O sedation use by pediatric dentists, and factors related to N2O equipment and safety. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among registered pediatric dentists who are practicing in Jordan. The sample comprised 77 participants. A fifteen-item questionnaire included information on demographic, N2O equipment, utilization, and safety was used. Descriptive and analytical statistical analysis were performed. The Chi-square test of independence was used to test relationships between subgroups. Statistical significance was set at 0.05. Results: Of all pediatric dentists who participated in this survey, 37.7% use N2O sedation in their clinical practice. Almost all pediatric dentists who provide N2O sedation are practicing in the private sector. Of respondents who provide N2O sedation, 44.8% obtain written consent forms from parents before sedation, 93.1%don’t have N2O ambient level monitoring system, 37.9% don’t have any monitoring equipment, 13.8% don’t have emergency certification, and 41.4% had never updated their medical emergency certification. Conclusions: While N2O sedation is used by a notable portion of pediatric dentists in the surveyed population, significant gaps exist in consent procedures, adherence to safety protocols, and emergency preparedness. These findings highlight a need for enhanced training, stricter regulations, and better enforcement to ensure patient safety and quality of care during N2O sedation.

Nitrous oxide; Pediatric dentistry; Sedation; Behavior management; Jordan

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