Conscious sedation cuts dental treatment costs versus general anaesthetic
Cost-benefit analysis shows CS frees theatre time and cuts treatment costs; applicable to secondary care planning.
A UK cost-consequence analysis of 1,321 dental procedures in secondary care found that expanding conscious sedation (CS) use could save the NHS £43,598 annually compared to current practice, while freeing up 107 hours of theatre time and 79 hours of anaesthetist time.
Current costs and resource use
Between April 2022 and March 2023, 792 patients received CS and 529 received general anaesthetic (GA). Current practice cost £1,817,227 per year, with GA accounting for 60% of total costs. Treatment yielded 1,297 successful cases (98%) and 20 adverse events (1%).
Proposed model savings
Shifting to increased CS use would reduce annual costs to £1,773,629. The change in clinical outcomes was modest. A sensitivity analysis excluding staff costs confirmed the cost-saving finding remained robust. Researchers noted that expanding sedation services could reduce reliance on GA, address long waiting times for dental procedures, and reduce bottlenecks in theatre access.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the NHS save by using more conscious sedation instead of general anaesthetic?
The analysis found that shifting to increased conscious sedation use would save £43,598 annually compared to current practice, reducing total costs from £1,817,227 to £1,773,629 per year.
What percentage of current dental procedure costs come from general anaesthetic?
General anaesthetic accounted for 60% of total annual costs in the study period (April 2022 to March 2023), despite being used in only 529 of 1,321 procedures.
How much theatre and anaesthetist time would be freed by expanding conscious sedation services?
The new model would free up 107 hours of theatre time and 79 hours of anaesthetist time annually, reducing bottlenecks in secondary care facilities.
Are clinical outcomes negatively affected by using more conscious sedation?
The analysis found that the change in clinical outcomes was modest between the two models, with successful case rates remaining high and adverse events stable.
Could expanding conscious sedation help reduce dental waiting times?
Yes, the study concluded that expanding sedation services could help address long waiting times for dental procedures by reducing over-reliance on general anaesthetic and freeing high-cost resources.
