A Nationwide Survey on the Demand and Supply of General Anesthesia and Intravenous Sedation in Dental Treatment

<p>  A nationwide online survey of dental clinics and associations was conducted to assess the status of anesthesia management (general anesthesia and/or sedation) during dental treatment in Japan. The survey garnered responses from 482 dental clinics (30.4% response rate), 26 prefectural dental associations (55.3% response rate), and 327 county/city dental associations (42.7% response rate). Notably, 69.3% of dental clinics were partnered with hospitals to offer outpatient dental treatments under anesthesia.</p><p>  Dental clinics primarily referred patients to general (62.0%) and university hospitals (57.5%) for treatments requiring anesthesia, with most patients experiencing a wait of less than two months. However, about 40% of regions reported a mismatch in the supply and demand for anesthesia services, independent of the presence of university hospitals. This shortfall was echoed by over two-thirds of dental associations, citing a lack of hospitals equipped to provide dental anesthesia and a shortage of specialized dental anesthesiologists. The survey revealed a low awareness (＜25%) among patients and guardians regarding anesthesia management during dental treatment. Over half of the clinics and associations believed that promoting the capabilities of anesthesia could enhance its adoption and guide patients towards suitable hospitals. To expand access to dental treatment under anesthesia, increasing the number of hospitals and trained dental anesthesiologists, along with establishing a specialty designation in dental anesthesia, will be crucial.</p>