Oral Conscious Sedation

Sedation is a technique to guide a child’s behavior during dental treatment. Medications are used to help increase cooperation and to reduce anxiety or discomfort associated with dental procedures. Sedative medications cause most children to become relaxed and drowsy. Unlike general anesthesia, sedation is not intended to make a patient unconscious or unresponsive.

Sedation is used for child’s safety and comfort during dental procedure. It allows the child to cope better with dental treatment and helps prevent injury to the child from uncontrolled and undesirable movements. Sedation provides a better environment for providing dental care.

Sedation may be indicated for children who have a level of anxiety that prevents good coping skills, those who are very young and do not understand how to cope in a cooperative fashion, or those requiring extensive dental treatment. Sedation can also be helpful for some patients who have special needs. Prior to offering any type of sedation, we will carefully review all of your child’s health and medical history. We will then recommend the sedative that is right for your child and their needs. Oral conscious sedation in not indicated for all patients and treatments.

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Is sedation safe?

Sedation can be used safely and effectively when administered by a pediatric dentist like Dr Abraham who follows sedation guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Dr Abraham will discuss the sedation options and patient monitoring for the safety and comfort of your child.

Your child has to be empty stomach and not sick before the sedation medication is given. The oral sedation process begins by a series of questionnaire and assessing your child physically before the medication is given. Your child will be given a liquid medication to be taken by mouth and it takes about 15 minutes for it to be effective. The medication is designed to make your child sleepy, relaxed and calm so that the treatment can be done. Your child’s vital signs will be monitored throughout the procedure. Children recover from the effects of sedatives at different rates so be prepared to remain at the office until after-effects are minimal. Once home your child should remain under adult supervision until fully recovered from the effects of sedation.

If you think your child might benefit from oral sedation, call our office today and our friendly staff members will be more than happy to answer all of your questions.