Overview

A practical guide to low-dose oral benzodiazepines for dental anxiety in primary care.

Date: Thursday 21st January 2027

Time: 1900-2100

Join us at our next sedation study club delivered by a panel of special care dentistry and pharmacist experts (Dr Robert Emanuel, Dr Parul Patel, Dr Brasanyaa Raveendran and Maryam Khorsandi), discussing all things about using pre-medication to facilitate access to dental care.

Aim:

To explore the role of low-dose oral benzodiazepine premedication in reducing dental anxiety in primary care, with an emphasis on appropriate patient selection, safe prescribing and improving access to dental treatment.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of the webinar, participants should be able to:

• Explain how benzodiazepines work and describe their intended effects and key risks when used for dental anxiety.
• Identify appropriate patients for oral benzodiazepine premedication and recognise when referral for sedation may be more suitable.
• Describe safe prescribing principles, taking account of relevant guidance and legal requirements.
• Discuss the evidence for the benefits, limitations and clinical outcomes of low-dose oral benzodiazepine premedication in primary dental care.

About our Speaker:

Rob Emanuel

Dr Rob Emanuel is a Consultant in Special Care Dentistry who graduated from Cardiff Dental School in 1993. He has worked in Special Care Dentistry in Sussex since 1998, developing interests in dental care for older people, practical approaches to restorative challenges and minimally invasive dentistry.

More recently, Rob has focused on promoting low-dose oral benzodiazepine premedication in primary dental care, with the aim of supporting anxious patients and easing pressure on NHS services.

A generalist at heart, Rob particularly enjoys prosthetics and exploring the possibilities of minimally invasive dentistry. He is committed to supporting his local Community Dental Service colleagues in finding simpler, practical solutions to often complex clinical problems.

Maryam Khorsandi

Maryam Khorsandi is a Renal Diabetes Pharmacist at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. She qualified from the UCL School of Pharmacy in 2019 and is a GPhC-registered clinical pharmacist and independent prescriber.

Maryam has extensive experience in diabetes management, optimising complex medication regimens and multidisciplinary clinical leadership. In her current role, she cares for patients with multiple long-term conditions, including advanced kidney disease and diabetes.

For this webinar, Maryam will draw on her clinical experience to explore benzodiazepine pharmacology and its relevance to managing dental anxiety.

CPD:

The event is accredited by the Royal College of Anaesthetists (RCoA) for 2 CPD credits.

Fee:

• £10 – DCP Members*
• £25 – Dentist and Doctor ADAS/BSPD Members*
• £50 – non-ADAS/BSPD Members

Free for undergraduate dental and medical students – please email us with proof of student status at info@dentalanaesthetists.org for the code to book the free ticket.

If wishing to become a member and avail the preferential member rates for this and future ADAS events, please visit www.dentalanaesthetists.org