You may not think twice about taking your child to the dentist, but maybe you should. A recent NBC News airing of “Sunday Night with Megyn Kelly” brought to light the danger of the dentist providing the anesthesia and performing the procedure at the same time.
According to the Dallas Morning News investigation in 2015, in the United States, nearly every other day a dental patient dies.
There is a safer way
A certified nurse anesthetist will bring hospital-quality sedation to the dental office, administer IV sedation and monitor your child’s vitals, while the dentist performs the procedure, allowing for a safe and effective way to receive dental care. Blue Sky Solutions Group follows the strict American Dental Association guidelines and protocols throughout the procedure. Prior to your appointment, Certified, registered and licensed Nurse Anesthetist Dwayne Thibeault will work closely with you to determine the best course of treatment.
NBC Today Suggest to Ask these 9 questions before your kids go under sedation
Parents should ask questions until they have no more, and they should always feel they have all the information they need to give consent for an elective procedure, said pediatrician Swanson.
1. What procedure are you going to do and do you have to do it?
2. How much training have you had? Get up and walk out if somebody says, “Oh, I took a weekend course and I just started doing this, but it’s going to be OK,” said Dr. Roger Byrne, an oral surgeon in Houston.
3. Are you going to sedate my child? If so, what medicines are you going to use? Be sure the doctor doesn’t understate the anesthesia being given. Answers like “it’s only a few pills” or “it’s just something that relaxes you” are red flags, said Dr. Louis K. Rafetto, past president of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.
4. Will there be a separate provider for general anesthesia in the room? “I would insist on a separate qualified anesthesia professional looking after my child,” Sibert advised.
5. How much experience does this person have caring for kids my child’s age?
6. How will my child be monitored during the procedure? Be sure there will be vigilant monitoring. Ask if the office has EKG, blood pressure, pulse oximetry and end tidal carbon dioxide monitors, Rafetto said.
7. Who is going to be in the room if something goes wrong? The staff should be prepared to recognize and respond to crisis situations. It also is appropriate to ask about the office’s safety record, he added.
8. Are you going to use a Papoose Board — a temporary restraint?
9. What kind of recovery setup do you have?
