Dental sedation is a higher risk for patients who have sleep apnea or who are obese.
To approve your child for sedation, we will need to review their medical history. This is because sedation is not suitable for all patients. We need to know if your child has a medical condition or takes any medications.
Your pediatric anesthesiologist will inform you on how to prepare your child for IV sedation. They will need to fast for 6 hours (no food or dairy products) before their appointment.
At the start of your child’s appointment, your child will have the opportunity to play with toys and an iPad as a distraction. Many children can breathe in "fruit flavored candy air" through a mask, and within a few seconds will fall off to sleep. Shortly after falling asleep, they will be carefully laid back, monitors placed, and the IV will be started. The IV provides medicine that ensures your child will remain asleep throughout the procedure.
Once your child is fully sedated, we will proceed with the treatment as well as any needed x-rays. They will be completely relaxed and the pediatric anesthesiologist will monitor their vitals the entire time.
During treatment, a nurse will review aftercare with you. Once we’ve completed the dental treatment, we will allow your child to slowly wake up. Your child may be kept for monitoring for a short period before they can go home. They will need to avoid certain activities for the next 24 hours.
Your child’s heart rate and blood pressure, and oxygen levels are monitored while they are sedated.
Your child will need to come in for a consultation with Dr. Azer to determine if your child is a good candidate for IV sedation. During this consultation, he will review their medical history and determine if any medical conditions or medication that they take will interfere with the sedative.
If your child does take certain medications but is approved for sedation, Dr. Azer will inform you if any changes need to be made such as avoiding taking certain medications on the day of sedation. You will also be informed of the level of risk of sedating your child depending on your child’s health.
Pediatric sedation dentistry is a specialized field that focuses on providing a comfortable, stress-free environment for children who need dental procedures. It involves the use of safe, approved sedative methods to help children relax and stay calm during their dental visits. At Pediatric Dentistry of Horizon West, Dr. Hany Azer and his team are skilled in this area, ensuring that your child's dental experience is as pleasant and pain-free as possible.
Preparing your child for a sedation dentistry appointment involves several steps to ensure a smooth and successful visit. First, it's important to follow any pre-appointment instructions provided by Dr. Hany Azer and his team, such as dietary restrictions or medication guidelines. Explain the process to your child in a positive and age-appropriate manner, emphasizing that it will help them feel comfortable and at ease. Arrive at the appointment early to allow your child to acclimate to the environment. Bringing a favorite toy or blanket can also provide additional comfort.
Children might need sedation dentistry for a variety of reasons. Some children may have a high level of anxiety or fear about dental procedures, while others may have special needs that make traditional dental care challenging. In other cases, children may need extensive dental work or procedures that could be uncomfortable. Sedation dentistry can help in all these scenarios, making the dental care experience more manageable for both the child and their parents.
Absolutely. The safety of your child is our utmost priority at Pediatric Dentistry of Horizon West. Dr. Hany Azer and his team are extensively trained in pediatric sedation methods and adhere strictly to the guidelines set by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Prior to any sedation, we conduct a thorough health evaluation of your child and choose the most suitable sedation method based on their specific needs and health status.
There are several types of sedation methods used in pediatric dentistry, and the choice of method depends on the child's comfort level, the complexity of the dental procedure, and the child's overall health. Methods can range from mild sedation with nitrous oxide (laughing gas), to moderate sedation with oral sedatives, to deeper sedation with IV medications or even general anesthesia. Rest assured, Dr. Azer and the team at Pediatric Dentistry of Horizon West are skilled in all these methods, and will always choose the safest, most effective option for your child.
Not all patients fall asleep during the procedure when they are sedated.
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