Impact of experiential learning on dental students’ training in nitrous oxide inhalation sedation

Abstract

Purpose/Objectives: Competence in nitrous oxide/oxygen (N2O/O2) inhalation sedation is expected of dental graduates, but applying what is learned through didactic instruction to patient care can be challenging without firsthand experience. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to evaluate the impact of experiential learning on dental students’ confidence and sense of preparedness for administration of N2O/O2. Methods: A biphasic, mixed methods study was conducted at a Midwestern dental school and included 2 cohorts of dental students. In Phase 1 (spring 2019), a cross-sectional study design was used to survey outgoing third-year and fourth-year students who received didactic N2O/O2 instruction alone. In Phase 2 (summer 2019), a nonrandomized, preintervention-postintervention study design was used to survey incoming third-year students before and after a hands-on N2O/O2 laboratory exercise. Results: Of the 79 Phase 1 students (99% response rate), all believed a firsthand learning experience with N2O/O2 during didactic learning would increase their confidence and preparedness when administering to a patient (both P