Dentists are specifically trained to provide sedation / anesthesia for dentists , are trained as dentists , and therefore know best , the needs of dentists and dental patients in an office setting . We are uniquely educated as specialists in anesthesia for dental and oral and maxillofacial procedures . This truly makes a big difference . We are also as well prepared as any other practitioner to handle any potential complication of sedation .
I provide these services both in my private office practice as well as offices of many other dentists in eastern Pennsylvania .
Aside from my long career in the trenches of the private office practice of sedation and anesthesia for dentistry , my entrance into dental education came much later and more recent . It began at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine where I began a program to teach sedation techniques to the graduate periodontology residents and the pediatric dentistry residents . These students experienced and participated in the treatment of their patients with various forms of sedation and general anesthesia within their clinics . I thank Dr . Joe Fiorellini of Penn Graduate Periodontology and former Dean Dennis Kinane for the opportunities .
At Temple Kornberg School of Dentistry , and at the request of Dean Amid Ismail , I developed and organized a new Dental Sedation Center primarily focused on a faculty practice model . The various specialty faculty treated dental and oral surgical patients while dental anesthesiologists , myself included , provided the sedation and general anesthesia . Along with this endeavor was the responsibility to also educate the graduate periodontology residents didactically and clinically in sedation techniques for their patients . Dental undergraduate students were also exposed in the form of lectures and some limited observations . A secondary appointment within the Temple Medical School Department of Anesthesiology gave me the opportunity to participate in their faculty and resident educational program and collaborate with the hospital anesthesia services with additional experiences for periodontology graduate residents .
While at both institutions , faculty were provided with continuing education in topics related to sedation and medical emergencies , as well as courses geared to the outside dental community .
I thank Dean Ismail for the opportunities at Temple .
The most rewarding aspect in dental education has been to experience the residents and students sharing in the joy of their patients ’ happiness after having procedures comfortably and without stress . This many times “ opened their eyes ” to a whole new outlook and philosophy on delivering dental care . All in all , a very positive and rewarding experience for them .
My hope is that all dental schools in the United States work to appoint dentist anesthesiologists to their faculties to increase the access to care for many patients and to expose and teach dental undergraduate and graduate students in the treatment of patients with needs for sedation . Also , there is a need to create more dental anesthesiology training programs associated with dental schools to accomplish these goals .
A special thank you must go to Joseph Giovannitti , DMD , Professor and Chair of Dental Anesthesiology , University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine for his guidance and encouragement to pursue a faculty career in dental education .
Finally , a big thanks of appreciation goes to Drs . Nancy Rosenthal , PDA President elect , and Jay Friedman for my nomination for this award . Both of you have been friends and great supporters over the years . Thank you to the PDA Annual Awards Committee and the Board of Trustees for bestowing this award on me . And finally , my wife Laura Heleniak for her never-ending support , guidance , and assistance throughout my career .
JULY / AUGUST 2022 | PENNSYLVANIA DENTAL JOURNAL 25