Sedation

Conscious Sedation

What is conscious sedation?
Conscious sedation is a management technique that uses medications to assist your child in coping with fear and anxiety and cooperating with dental treatment. Conscious sedation is a type of sedation in which the patient can respond to verbal directions, but feels little to no pain, and has an altered level of consciousness. This level of sedation is used for dental procedures which do not merit the use of general anesthesia and for procedures involving patients who cannot cooperate with care providers.

Who should be sedated?
Children who have a level of anxiety that prevents good coping skills or are very young and do not understand how to cope in a cooperative fashion for the delivery of dental care should be sedated. Oral sedation is often helpful for some children who have special needs.

Why utilize conscious sedation?
Oral sedation aids in allowing a child to cope better with dental treatment. This can help prevent injury to the child from sudden movement and promote a better environment for providing dental care.

What medications are used?
Many different medications can be used for conscious sedation. Dr. Waschak chooses the medication with the highest therapeutic index and safety margin for your child and the type of procedures performed.

Is sedation safe?
Sedation is safe when administered by a trained pediatric dentist who follows the sedation guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Dr. Waschak and our staff will discuss sedation options and patient monitoring for the protection of your child.

What special instructions should I follow before the sedation appointment?
Should your child become ill, contact our office to see if it is necessary to postpone the appointment. It is very important to follow the directions given to you regarding fasting from fluids and foods prior to your child’s sedation appointment.

What special instructions should I follow after the sedation appointment?
Your child will not be discharged until alert and ready to go home. Children who have been sedated are usually requested to remain at home for the rest of the day with adult supervision. We will discuss specific post-sedation instructions with you, including appropriate diet, physical activity, and requested supervision.

What are the Side Effects of Conscious Sedation?
A brief period of amnesia after the procedure may follow the administration of conscious sedation and may erase any memory of the procedure. Occasional side effects may include headache, hangover, nausea and vomiting.