SUMMIT (Sedation in Under 16s to Manage Maxillary Impacted Teeth) v1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Making invasive healthcare procedures more acceptable to young people: exploring the role of conscious sedation in the provision of minor oral surgery
IRAS ID
280093
Contact name
Ashleigh J Stamp
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Newcastle university
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
"Research Summary"
Why are particular behavioural management/support techniques employed to facilitate surgical canine exposures in young people aged 12-15 years and what are patient and legal guardian experiences of care?
Each year in the UK a proportion of 12-15year olds undergoing brace (orthodontic) treatment require dental surgery to uncover (expose) canine teeth which are buried under the gum (impacted); allowing them to grow into their normal position in the mouth. Although some young people happily receive treatment with local anaesthetic (LA) injections alone, many require additional assistance because they are nervous or the procedure is invasive. In such cases, guidelines recommend sedation (patient awake but feeling more relaxed) should ideally be employed, where appropriate, as a safer alternative to general anaesthetic (GA). In some healthcare settings treatment is however commonly provided under GA, with limited alternatives for those unable to receive care under LA. Options available to young people and their parents vary across the UK with resulting disparities in access to care; only by understanding the reasons for current practice can interventions to ensure equity in access to care be developed.
One-to-one and group interviews with Dental Professionals working across the UK and Republic of Ireland will ascertain why some practitioners employ sedation to facilitate canine exposures and others routinely do not. Dental Professionals will be identified through their involvement in earlier parts of this research, employment at Participant Identification Centres (PICs) or research networks. During one-to-one interviews Patients (aged 12-16 years) who have received treatment within the past 6 months (LA, sedation or GA) will be asked to discuss their opinions and experiences of treatment. Similar interviews with Legal Guardians will ascertain their views on their child's care. Patients and Legal Guardians will be invited to take part in the study by PICs (orthodontic practices) across the UK.
"Summary of results"
Sixty-two people across the UK and Republic of Ireland took part in the study, each speaking with the lead researcher about their individual views and experiences of dental care.
Nineteen patients talked about their lived experiences of dental care to uncover (expose) canine teeth, reflecting upon how they prepared for treatment and role of their support networks. Young people taking part in the study also considered how they make decisions about their own dental treatment and relationships with dental professionals.
Legal guardians of patients who took part in the study shared their experiences of supporting young people through surgical dental and brace (orthodontic) treatment, the impact this can have on them as individuals and recognised the role they play in their child’s dental care journey.
During one-to-one interviews twenty-four dental professionals explored factors which can influence how dental teams work and the wider context within care provision exists. Dental professionals also reflected upon opportunities to advance service delivery, role of education and training and providing patient care which is adapted to the needs of the individual.REC name
Wales REC 7
REC reference
22/WA/0114
Date of REC Opinion
19 Apr 2022
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion