Pediatric sedation for dental work has recently come into question. Under the current guidelines, a dentist who has training in anesthesia, can administer it without someone with proper certification to monitor the child’s vital signs.
This is unlike the rules mandated for physicians. They are required to have another person present who is clinically trained specifically for administering anesthesia, they monitor the child’s vital signs during and after the procedure.
It can be challenging for young children or those with special needs, to sit still for very long. Especially when they are sitting in a dental chair and someone has their hands in their mouth.
IV sedation is a helpful way for children to get the dental care they need, they can get several treatments done in one appointment. This can make all the difference for parents and caregivers, when just getting their child into the dental office is difficult.
In some situations the dentist is doing both the procedure and the sedation. Which means one of these will not have the dentist’s full attention, typically it is the sedation. Unfortunately, this has had some disastrous outcomes. Which has led to the push for stricter rules for the use of anesthesia in the dentist office.
The American Academy of Pediatrics in conjunction with the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) released new guidelines recommending, “that at least two individuals with specific training and credentials should be present with a pediatric patient undergoing deep sedation/general anesthesia for dental treatment in a dental facility or hospital/surgical center.
“In either setting, an independent observer — with no additional responsibilities — must be skilled to assist with any medical emergency; both the independent observer and the operating dentist must be certified in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS). The 2019 revision clarifies that the sedation must be administered by a qualified anesthesia provider (a medical anesthesiologist, certified registered nurse anesthetist, dentist anesthesiologist or second oral surgeon).”
If you are considering having IV sedation for your child’s dental appointment, contact Blue Sky Solutions Anesthesia Associates. We can help you assure you the safest option.
