IV Sedation Tour
Most dental procedures in children are completed using local anesthesia. However, very young, fearful or uncooperative children require sedation. Depending upon your child’s health history, temperament, age and dental care needs, your dentist and our physicians will recommend the type of sedation that is best for your child. Safety will be the number one priority in every aspect of your child’s care.
Before the Procedure
After IV sedation is recommended for your child, our office staff will call you to discuss your child’s current medical history, give you pre-sedation information and instructions, and discuss the IV sedation procedures with you.
Our pediatric anesthesiologist will review each child’s medical history and may call you if more information is needed about your child. Children with very complex medical conditions may need to have their dental procedures at the hospital. When considering a medical or dental procedure for your child, you deserve to have all of your questions answered and all of your concerns addressed prior to the procedure.
Please feel free to call our office to discuss your child’s procedure; we can also arrange a preoperative call with the pediatric anesthesiologist.
On the Day of the Procedure
When you arrive for your child’s procedure, the nurse will ask when was your child’s last meal, review the medical history, and explain what to expect. After all your questions are answered, you will be asked to sign the sedation anesthesia consent.
Your child will be distracted with toys and/or video games while flavored sleepy air or a twilight medication injection are administered. After asleep, an IV will be placed for continuous administration of anesthesia medications until the dental procedure is completed. We recommend you do not tell your child about the IV, in our experience this only increases their anxiety and may make them more resistant. We like to make it a fun experience for your child to make future dental visits go smoothly.
You will not be able to come in the room while your child is being sedated. This is solely for your child’s safety. Our doctors will be accompanied with a medical team who will be caring for your child.
During the Procedure
Your child will have EKG, blood pressure, breathing, and oxygenation monitors throughout the procedure. The sedative medication infusion is continued throughout the dental treatment. Nitrous oxide in oxygen provides your child additional pain relief for the minor discomfort associated with the dental treatment. The pediatric dentist will inform you if local anesthesia was used.
At the End of the Procedure
At the end of the dental treatment, the IV medicine is turned off, and the IV and monitors are removed as your child begins to awaken.
You can be with your child as they awaken. Our Recovery Nurse will monitor your child’s progress and review with you the Discharge Instructions and home care. It usually takes about about 30 to 60 minutes before your child will be ready to travel home. Your child may be sleepy and dizzy for 3 to 4 hours. Children can drink and eat soft foods soon after the procedure. Nausea and vomiting are rare.
Expect a follow up call from us to check on your child’s progress.
