At the Edge of Consciousness: Turkish Dentists’ Perspectives on Sedation

Background: In most countries, dentists with appropriate training may provide minimal or moderate sedation, while anesthesiologists are involved in deeper techniques. In Turkey, however, all dental sedation is exclusively administered by anesthesiologists, placing dentists in a unique position as decision-makers and patient communicators rather than providers. Understanding their views is therefore highly relevant to general dentistry and dental education, as it reflects how practitioners adapt to a system where sedation is externally delivered. Methods: A validated 16-item multiple-choice questionnaire was administered both online and in printed form to dentists and dental students across Turkey between May 2024 and February 2025. A total of 374 participants who completed the questionnaire in full were included in the study. Results: The majority of participants had previous experience with sedation-assisted procedures, particularly specialists in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (98.0%) and non-specialist dentists (90.2%). Satisfaction rates with procedures performed under sedation were highest among Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (89.8%) and Restorative Dentistry (80.0%) specialists. The most common reason for satisfaction was the patient’s calmness during the procedure. Sedation was most frequently preferred due to dental anxiety (especially in Pedodontics, 81.8%) and the gag reflex (particularly in Prosthodontics, 90.9%). The most reported barrier to sedation use was organizational difficulty and cost. A notable proportion of participants (45.4%) stated that sedation should be applied when clinically indicated, while only 0.3% believed it should be applied to every patient. Knowledge regarding pre-sedation fasting protocols was highest among Pedodontics specialists (62.5%), while many participants, particularly from Orthodontics and Oral Diagnosis & Radiology, provided incorrect responses. Conclusions: The findings highlight varying degrees of experience, satisfaction, and knowledge related to sedation among dental professionals in Turkey. Sedation practices appear influenced by specialty-specific needs, clinical exposure, and logistical constraints. These results underscore the importance of targeted education and clearer national guidelines to optimize sedation practices in dentistry.