For dental & medical professionals
The SAAD National Course in Conscious Sedation for Dentistry covers the underpinning knowledge and clinical skills required for the safe provision of conscious sedation in dental practice. The teaching faculty are the UK’s most experienced dental sedation teachers.
It is an excellent introduction to conscious sedation for 'New Starters' and a comprehensive refresher for practitioners wishing to ensure they remain up-to-date with sedation techniques and recommendations on best practice.
The programme is regularly updated in order to meet the changing needs of practitioners in general dental practice, Community Dental Service and hospital environments.
Course Content
Explain the principals of safe & effective conscious sedation (basic techniques)
Describe patient assessment and treatment planning
Recognise potential airway and breathing difficulties
Understand the significance of medical problems, including medication
Describe the administration of sedation, monitoring, recovery and discharge
Describe the recognition and management of sedation-related complications
Be aware of National guidance on conscious sedation
Why choose this course?
- Be taught by the UK's most experienced teachers of conscious sedation for dentistry
- Theoretical and practical instruction in all aspects of conscious sedation
- Discussion of behavioural and advanced techniques
- SAAD course handbook covering all aspects of the SAAD National Course
- Plentiful opportunities for individual questions and discussion with faculty members who have extensive personal experience of your branch of dentistry and the range of patients you treat
SAAD offers three National Courses each year, two in-person courses and one in a blended format (one day online and one day in person)
Course fees
2025
Member rate £820
Non-member £850
2026
Member rate £820
Non-member £890
SAAD members
Remember to log onto the website before registering so that your memebr discount will be applied.
About Our Teaching
SAAD’s teaching is provided by a faculty which includes the most experienced teachers of dental sedation in the UK. Our course provides a sound foundation in basic conscious sedation techniques.
The SAAD National Course provides theoretical and practical instruction in all aspects relating to the current use of Conscious Sedation techniques. Mainstream techniques (intravenous midazolam and inhalation sedation) are covered in detail, and more advanced conscious sedation techniques are also discussed. (Advanced techniques must only be considered where practitioners have gained appropriate clinical supervision).
SAAD is well known for providing sound and entertaining training; an investment for patients and an enjoyable continuing professional dental education experience for practitioners
Meet our Teaching Faculty
Attend a SAAD Course and be taught by the country’s most experienced dental sedation teachers!
The SAAD Teaching Faculty has oral surgeons, paediatric dentists, special care dentists, clinical psychologists, GDPs, dental nurses, peripatetic sedationists and resuscitation officers - all experienced teachers.
New starter?
Under current IACSD guidance, any practitioner who was not practising sedation independently prior to April 2015, is designated a 'New Starter' and will need to undergo a period of supervised clinical practice before being able to practise sedation independently.
The SAAD National course provides the required underpinning knowledge and also an introduction to the clinical skills for sedation, but it is then necessary to undertake supervised clinical experience before embarking on independent practice.
If you are a new starter, and not completing your supervised sedation experience as part of a University or Postgraduate Deanery run training scheme, or with a STAC approved supervisor, then you should also consider registering for the SAAD Assessed Sedationist (SAS) scheme. The SAS scheme follows on from attendance of the SAAD National Course. It is possible to register for the SAS scheme up to a month after attending the SAAD course.
Link to SAS scheme page - further details and registration
Venue, times and sample programmes
Click here for information about the venue, course times and the sample programme
Queen Mary University of London (QMUL)
Mile End Road Campus
Any Questions
Contact info@saad.org.uk 01302 578 835
IACSD
‘Standards for Conscious Sedation in the Provision of Dental Care’ (April 2015, 2020)
Following publication of the IACSD standards in April 2015, dentists, doctors, dental hygienists/therapists and dental nurses who have no previous experience in conscious sedation for dentistry must now undertake appropriate training before commencing independent clinical practice.
All training programmes for ‘new starters’ must include supervised clinical experience and have external validation. UK university-based courses and those run by Postgraduate Deaneries are deemed to be compliant. Other courses leading to independent (i.e. unsupervised) practice, including those run by private providers, must be accredited by the Sedation Training and Accreditation Committee (STAC) of IACSD.
The IACSD Standards state that practitioners offering supervised clinical experience in conscious sedation must now be accredited by a university, deanery or IACSD (p34, 86).
The SAAD Alumni
After attending one of the SAAD courses you will become a member of the SAAD Alumni.
Terms and Conditions
Please see our Transfer, cancellation and refund policy