Dental Office Sedation and Anesthesia Care Position Statement Introduction Patient safety should be the guiding principle in the delivery of dental sedation and anesthesia. As more patients of all ages and health complexities undergo dental procedures requiring sedation or anesthesia in office-based settings, ensuring safe, high-quality anesthesia care requires qualified personnel, continuous patient monitoring, and clearly defined team roles. Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs), also referred to as nurse anesthesiologists or nurse anesthetists, play a critical role in promoting patient safety by providing vigilant monitoring, managing sedation and anesthesia, maintaining physiologic stability, and responding to changes in patient condition throughout the perioperative period. Collaboration between the anesthesia professional and the proceduralist, supported by effective communication, adherence to evidence-based practices, and appropriate preparation for emergencies, enhances patient safety and contributes to optimal patient outcomes. Purpose To describe the role of qualified anesthesia professionals in the delivery of office-based dental sedation and anesthesia and to support evidence-based practices that promote patient safety, interdisciplinary collaboration, and high-quality anesthesia care across diverse dental practice settings. Audience This position statement is intended for CRNAs, resident registered nurse anesthetists, dentists, oral surgeons, dental assistants, members of the interdisciplinary healthcare team, administrators involved in policy development and implementation, regulators, and other stakeholders involved in the delivery of office-based dental sedation and anesthesia. Position Patient safety and safe outcomes during dental sedation, as with all procedural sedation, are best achieved when provided by a healthcare professional, whose only responsibility is the sedation and monitoring of the patient, and a proceduralist whose specific focus is on the procedure.1 Deep sedation and general anesthesia for dental procedures is safest when provided by a qualified, licensed anesthesia professional, who is not simultaneously engaged in the dental procedure.1-3 When sedation or anesthesia services are required, the use of anesthesia professionals, with delineated responsibilities, allows each team member to focus on his or her role for best outcomes and patient safety.1,4-7 Background As an increasing number of patients of all ages and complexity seek sedation and anesthesia for dental procedures in office-based settings, it is important to keep patient safety central to the delivery of sedation and anesthesia services.3 Sedation and anesthesia for dental procedures may be administered to children, individuals with special needs, or adults due to fear, anxiety, or procedural pain.8-10 Sedation and anesthesia safety in an office-based setting is dependent on patient selection, sedation and anesthesia goals, techniques, vigilant patient monitoring, as well as the skills and competencies of the patient-centered care team.11
1 of 4 American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology 10275 West Higgins Road, Suite 500 | Rosemont, IL 60018 Professional Practice Division l 847-655-8870 l practice@aana.com