Access to Deep Sedation and General Anasesthesia Services for Dental Patients: A Survey of Ontario Dentists

Background: Many patients need deep sedation or general anaesthesia (DS/GA) to undergo dental treatment as a result of fear, anxiety, disability, invasive dentistry, medical illness, or age. Objective: To assess barriers in accessing DS/GA as identified by dentists. Methods: An electronic survey was distributed to Ontario dentists (n=5507). Descriptive and regression analyses were performed. Results: With a response rate of 18.3%, one quarter (24.8%) of those surveyed report inadequate access to DS/GA. Those outside the Greater Toronto Area and in rural communities had higher odds of reporting this outcome. General dentists, part-time dentists, urban dentists, and dentists >64 years-old had higher odds of not utilizing DS/GA. Common reasons for not utilizing GA were lack of perceived need and additional costs. Dentists that utilize DS/GA indicate that additional patient costs represent the greatest barrier to care. Conclusion: Access to DS/GA in Ontario is not uniform and major barriers to care exist.M.Sc