Concious Sedation Information

Advances over the past several years relating to children’s dentistry have helped in making dental visits easy, painless and often fun. We have received specialized training in understanding children’s needs and how to make the introduction to dentistry pleasant.

It has always been our goal to deliver the finest quality dental treatment to our patients, while making each visit as pleasant, stress-free and painless as possible. Oftentimes, children need additional help during their visit(s). This help can come in the form of sedative medication. The medication your child will be using will be vistaril and chloral hydrate. Vistaril produces mild relaxation, dries secretions in the mouth and helps prevent nausea.

Chloral hydrate is a sedative which sometimes causes mild stomach irritation. These medications are supplemented with nitrous oxide which is an analgesic. Analgesics cause a feeling of well being. The nitrous oxide is available to patients by breathing voluntarily through a nose mask. This pleasant analgesic prevents pain without putting a child to sleep. Nitrous oxide is one of the oldest and safest analgesic gases known. You may have heard it referred to as “laughing gas.” Side effects may include nausea, vomiting and dizziness. These effects can be greatly reduced by not having any food or drink for several hours prior to the appointment.

Prior to Dental Treatment With Conscious Sedation:

Don’t give your child anything to eat or drink after midnight the day of appointment.
Should your child develop a cold, fever or other illness, please call us as it may be necessary to reschedule the appointment.

Alternatives to Conscious Sedation:

Relaxants, nitrous oxide analgesic and sedation are used within recommended doses and only when we believe it is for the patient’s welfare. The alternatives to using medication with a child who cannot accept dental treatment without conscious sedation are:

Do no treatment whatsoever and allow the dental disease to progress.
Administer treatment in the hospital under general anesthesia.

Tips For A Successful Sedation Appointment:

Giving nothing to eat or drink after midnight the night before is essential.
Keep your child up as late as possible the night before. The more tired they are when you arrive to our office the better. It will help them to nap during the sedation.
Your child should wear comfortable clothes with a toe accessible.
Please bring your child’s favorite blanket or stuffed animal for their comfort.
You may bring your child’s favorite video to watch while the medication takes effect.
Bringing a change of clothes and extra diapers (if applicable) is recommended. Drinking water for the ride home is also nice.
If your child has only been recently potty trained it would be best to wear pull ups.
Two adults should accompany your child to make your ride home an easier one. It’s beneficial for one adult to ride in the back with your child to comfort them.

Post-Sedation Instructions:

Getting home - Carefully secure your child in a car seat or seat belt during transportation. If your child is sleeping on the way home, gently support his/her head in an upright position. It would be helpful for two adults to accompany the child to the appointment.
Behavior - Your child may continue to be groggy or irritable for several hours after the completion of the dental visit. This behavior is to be expected. If your child is napping, check on him/her periodically to be sure he/she is easily arousable.
Activities - Closely supervise your child’s activity for the remainder of the day. Exercise special caution around staircases. Activities such as running and jumping are best limited.

Drinking and Eating- Your child’s lips, cheeks and tongue may be numb for several hours following the dental procedures. A soft diet and plenty of liquids is recommended. Although your child has not eaten for several hours, start by offering him/her small quantities. Thank you for allowing us to care for your child today. Please call us at the office at 424-5005 if you have any questions or concerns. If you are calling after business hours, a 24 hour contact number will be available.