Guidelines: In-office use of conscious sedation in periodontics.

In this time of heightened awareness of periodontal diseases and the potential consequences of untreated disease, a deterrent in the delivery of periodontal care continues to be patient anxiety concerning treatment and the fear of pain. These guidelines are intended for periodontists in the in-office use of enteral, inhalation, and/or parenteral conscious sedation in the delivery of care. The definitions, educational guidelines, and policies presented in these guidelines are consistent with the most current American Dental Association (ADA) documents Guidelines for the Use of Conscious Sedation, Deep Sedation and General Anesthesia for Dentists and the Guidelines for Teaching the Comprehensive Control of Anxiety and Pain in Dentistry available from the American Dental Association, 211 E. Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611 or http://www.ada.org, and for Revisions to Anesthesia Care Standards Comprehensive Accreditation Manual for Ambulatory Care, effective January 1, 2001, Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations, available through http://www.jcaho.org/standard/anesamb.html. This paper replaces the former position paper entitled "Guidelines for the Use of Conscious Sedation in Periodontics."