Both children and adults with Down’s syndrome usually develop severe dental issues, including, misaligned, missing, or malformed teeth. On top of that, they tend to have a higher percent of periodontal disease and gingivitis. To prevent such issues from progressing, those with Down’s syndrome tend to need frequent deep cleaning to reduce tooth loss.
To complicate matters, many of those with Down’s syndrome have bite problems and low manual dexterity, which often results in poor oral care.
IV or sleep sedation is a safe way to provide dental care for someone with developmental disabilities. It is especially helpful if there are several procedures that need to be preformed. A single appointment can take care of everything.
There is no need to put your loved one through a taxing situation or unnecessary distress for an extraction or root canal, even a cleaning can cause many with Down’s syndrome anxiety. Sedation dentistry has been playing a major role in helping improve the dental experience for many people, old and young alike.
The preferred method of sedation is IV sedation because it is tailored to fit their individual needs, offers a deep level of sedation, and has rapid results. You wake up from a great nap and everything is done, it’s as simple as that!
Preparing for the Appointment
During IV sedation the patient is carefully monitored during the entire procedure. Make sure you are prepared for your sedation appointment by discussing any medications the patient is taking prior to the appointment, make sure there will be a friend or family member to drive the patient home afterwards, ensure they arrive on time for their appointment, and follow the pre and post procedures directions carefully.
