Sedation-Should I Let My Child’s Dentist Use It?




Conscious sedation is another method that can be used for children during a dental appointment. It may be recommended if your child is struggling to wear the Nitrous Oxide mask, if your child is apprehensive, has special needs or is very young.  Conscious sedation is considered safe in children to use for dental procedures. Your child will be monitored both during and after the procedure, as they can be very drowsy.  It is recommended that you keep your child awake after the procedure for at least two hours in order to make sure there are no problems.
 
There are multiple medications that can be used for conscious sedation.  While each medication is a little different, on the day of the appointment your child should not have a nap right before, should only drink clear liquids and should not eat. “Not eating reduces the risk of vomiting,” says pediatric dentist, Dr. Cameron Fuller. 

Conscious sedation is not a common practice at Pediatric Dentistry of Redlands and is only used when it is necessary to keep your child safe during a procedure. When possible other methods will be used first. For example, explaining the procedure thoroughly, if possible, to your child so that they know what to expect. And at Pediatric Dentistry of Redlands there are televisions in the treatment areas to help keep your child comfortable and distracted.

Please let Dr. Fuller and his team knows if you have any concerns or questions about any sedation before it is used.

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