Dental Survey Results: What Do Dentists Think About Oral Conscious Sedation Dentistry?

In our most recent survey, we asked dentists if they offer their patients oral conscious sedation.

Two out of three dentists reported that their dental practices offer OCS.

A quarter of dentists don't feel comfortable offering sedation.

And 8% said that they wished they were able to offer OCS, but regulations in their state made it too difficult to implement in their practice.

When it comes to sedation, urban dentists are the most conservative, and rural dentists the most liberal.

Fully 70% of rural dentists offer sedation, while only 57% of urban and 63% of suburban dentists do.

In addition, urban dentists were more likely to wish they were able to offer oral conscious sedation.

While 17% of urban dentists expressed this preference, only 6% of suburban dentists felt the same, and no rural dentists did.

Gender differences were minimal, but still significant.

Female dentists were more likely to feel uncomfortable offering OCS than their male colleagues.

While 42% of women said they don't feel safe about offering sedation dentistry, only 28% of men did.

In addition, male dentists are more likely to offer OCS at their practices, with 64% of men reporting they offer the service, as compared to only 54% of women.

Specialists are more likely than general dentists to offer sedation dentistry.

While 72% of specialists report offering OCS, only 61% of general dentists do.