This study will measure the stress levels of pediatric dentists performing dental treatments under deep sedation and general anesthesia. Stress levels will be compared during sedation and general anesthesia procedures performed using three different methods. Salivary alpha-amylase and salivary cortisol levels will be measured to assess stress.

The aim of this study is to determine the stress levels of pediatric dentists during dental treatment procedures using different airway devices (nasal mask, laryngeal mask (LMA), intubation tube) in the operating room environment and to examine the changes according to the methods.

Three female dentists with at least 10 years of experience, systemically healthy, and similar age, height, and weight, working at the Pediatric Dentistry Clinic of Erciyes University Faculty of Dentistry participated in this study. Each dentist treated 42 patients, 14 each, using nasal mask, laryngeal mask and general anesthesia methods. A total of 126 patients were treated in the operating room. Vital signs (systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, pulse, oxygen saturation) were measured three times by physicians, 10 minutes before starting the treatment, 25 minutes after the treatment, and 10 minutes after the treatment ended, and saliva samples were taken.

All measurements were made between 9:00 and 12:00 a.m. salivary cortisol was measured by electrochemiluminescence (ECLIA) method using the Roche Cortisol II kit and the Roche Cobas e 801 analyzer. Salivary alpha amylase was measured by colorimetric enzyme test using Roche Cobas c 701 analyzer. Physicians' stress was assessed using VAS (Visual Analog Scale), one of the psychogenic methods.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Body mass index (BMI) of 25 kg/m² and less
• Systemically healthy
• Without a diagnosed stress-anxiety disorder or depression
• Having worked with pediatric patients in an operating room environment for at least 10 years.
• Responding to chronic occupational stress questions similar to the Dentist Job Stress Questionnaire (DJS).
• Female pediatric dentist

Exclusion Criteria:

• pregnant women
• breastfeeding mothers

woman

The participants were selected from female pediatric dentists working at the Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Erciyes University.