A dental visit can be very scary, especially for children. It can be difficult for them to sit still during a routine exam, none the less filling several cavities or a root canal.
Many times pediatric dentists suggest some type of sedation to help them during the procedure. Often times that can be IV sedation, but this has come under scrutiny. Experts agree it is important to have all the facts before the procedure.
For instance, if your child is having IV sedation for their dental procedure, there should be a qualified third party in the room, such as a CRNA. Who will monitor anesthesia care, administered by a separate provider allows your dentist to give their full attention to the treatment and care of the patient.
Today has published some question parents and caregivers should ask
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,” said Dr. Karen Sibert, an associate clinical professor of anesthesiology at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Check back with us next week for more questions to ask before your child has IV sedation for dental work. Until then, contact Blue Sky Solutions Anesthesia Associates to bring hospital-level sedation to your dentist’s office. Our #1 goal is patient safety and satisfaction because we care for you, like we would our family.
