Federal Court prohibits use of drug anesthesia by dentists

A Federal Court decision changed a procedure considered risky and generally carried out in dental offices. This change refers to anesthesia that uses controlled medications, in which the patient remains unconscious throughout the procedure.

Conscious sedation

Dental surgeon Silvio Teixeira says that the objective of conscious sedation through inhalation of oxygen and nitrous oxide is to remove anxiety and panic from the patient, whether child or adult. The court informs that, in procedures such as a filling, less complex anesthesia will continue to be allowed.

_{Anesthesia without controlled medications continues to be allowed (Photo: reproduction/dentaleader)}

Preparation for the use of sedatives with the use of drugs

The Brazilian Society of Anesthesiology states that there is preparation for the application of sedatives and dentists do not usually acquire knowledge on this subject. Therefore, the Federal Court prohibits the 409 thousand dental surgeons, who exist in Brazil, from using controlled drugs and use

According to the lawyer for dental professionals, there are no rules or supervision for dentists, therefore, there are even more risks for patients who need to carry out complex procedures. Furthermore, a dentist is not technically prepared on how to act in the event of an incident. To use the sedative, you need to take an advanced life support course, acquiring knowledge about intubation, oxygen circulation and, above all, learning how to keep the patient stable in the face of any problem related to sedation.

In a note, the National Council of Dentistry informs that it will carry out a technical analysis to comply with the court order and guarantee the rights of professionals at the same time. Furthermore, he stated that he is willing to improve techniques with the aim of ensuring patient safety. And, he has not yet commented on the process.

Featured photo: anesthesia used by dentists was the subject of justice (reproduction/cmosdrake)