Parents want the best for their children, but when it comes to taking them to the dentist, it isn’t always easy. You know how important it is for them to have good oral health care, but the lights, sounds, and sitting in that dental chair with fingers and instruments in their tiny little mouths, can be overwhelming for any child.

Pediatric IV Sedation is a Safe Solution

While IV sedation is an easy way to have multiple treatments all done in a single appointment, without any anxiety or stress on your child, it is important to take all the necessary safety precautions.

Deep Sedation Equipment and Personnel Requirements according to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry in Monitoring and Management Of Pediatric Patients’ Sedation.

Personnel 

An independent observer whose only responsibility is to continuously monitor the patient; trained in PALS.

Responsible Practitioner 

Skilled to rescue a child with apnea, laryngospasm, and/or airway obstruction, including the ability to open the airway, suction secretions, provide CPAP, perform successful bag-valve-mask ventilation, tracheal intubation, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation; training in PALS is required; at least 1 practitioner skilled in obtaining vascular access in children immediately available

Monitoring 

Pulse oximetry, ECG required, Heart rate, Blood pressure Respiration, and Capnography required.

Other Equipment 

Suction equipment, adequate oxygen source/supply, defibrillator required.

Documentation 

Name, route, site, time of administration, and dosage of all drugs administered; continuous oxygen saturation, heart rate, and ventilation (capnography required); para- meters recorded at least every 5 minutes

Required 

Rescue cart properly stocked with rescue drugs and age- and size- appropriate equipment.

Dedicated recovery area with rescue cart properly stocked with rescue drugs and age- and size- appropriate equipment and dedicated recovery personnel; adequate oxygen supply.

Recommended; initial recording of vital signs may be needed for at least 5-minute intervals until the child begins to awaken, then re- cording intervals may be increased to 10–15 minutes