Young children and those with disabilities such as Down syndrome or autism, can have a particularly difficult time undergoing even simple dental procedures. Often times the treatment requires the child to undergo some type of sedation.
The smells of the dental office, the sound of the drill, and bright lights, can be very scary and overwhelming. Making it almost impossible for anyone to sit still.
Of course, the goal for any dental procedure is to provide the safest environment for a pain free procedure.
Is Sedation safe for children undergoing dental procedures?
It is important for parents and guardians understand all their options, as well as, what type of sedation their child is going to have during the dental appointment, why the dentist is recommending this type of sedation, and who will be providing the sedation.
A clinical report released by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) updates the guidelines for dentists when it comes to providing sedation to children.
Often times when a child needs multiple treatments, has a fear of the dentist, disability, trouble sitting still, or a multitude of other reasons, a dentist recommends IV sedation. This puts the child in a sleep like state, they will still be able to answer questions, but won’t feel any pain or remember much of the appointment.
According to the guidelines in the clinical report for deep sedation, “there must be 1 person whose only responsibility is to constantly observe the patient’s vital signs, airway patency, and adequacy of ventilation and to either administer drugs or direct their administration. At least 1 individual must be present who is trained in and capable of providing advanced pediatric life support and who is skilled to rescue a child with apnea, laryngospasm, and/or airway obstruction. Required skills include the ability to open the airway, suction secretions, provide CPAP, insert supraglottic devices (oral airway, nasal trumpet, LMA), and perform successful bag-valve-mask ventilation, tracheal intubation, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation.”
The AAPD and AAP both recommend a professional in anesthesia, such as a nurse anesthetist, be present with your child during the treatment, enabling the dentist to concentrate fully on the treatment.
As a highly regarded nurse anesthetist, Blue Sky Solutions partners with some of the top rated dentist in cities such as, Barrington, Concord, Amherst, Nashua, Rochester, and Dover, to minimize and even eliminate stress and pain associated with going to the dentist. At Blue Sky Solutions, we work with each patient individually to create a sedation plan specifically tailored to their needs, to ensure they achieve a state of peace and tranquilly in a safe environment.
