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The use of sedation for the dental patient with special needs. (Part X).

Article Excerpt
There are various indications for the use of sedation in dental patients with disabilities. These can include: patients who are unable to cooperate because of extreme anxiety or phobia concerning dental treatment; individuals who exhibit involuntary movement caused by neuromuscular disorders; and patients who, due to mental retardation, are unable to understand the need for dental care and are unable to cooperate in a way that allows the dental professional to provide optimal care. Additionally, some patients capable of cooperating for brief, minor procedures may require sedation for more extensive treatment needs. The decision to utilize a sedative medication should be made only after a thorough evaluation of dental treatment needs has been completed, a level of patient cooperation has been attained and the patient's current health status assessed.

Dental professionals are trained in a number of sedative techniques that can alleviate patient anxiety and/or control disruptive behaviors in the course of dental treatment. Laws regulating sedative administration by dentists vary widely from state to state. Before your child is scheduled for a sedative procedure in a dental office, make sure that the practitioner has the appropriate certification required by your state for the type of sedation to be administered. It is very important that you completely familiarize the doctor with your child's medical history and provide information on any medications your child may be taking.

Sedative techniques run along a continuum from light, conscious sedation, through unconscious sedation, all the way to general anesthesia. The degree of sedation is dependent upon the drugs utilized as well as the dosage and route of drug administration.

Types of Sedation

Inhalation: The combination of nitrous oxide and oxygen (commonly known as "laughing gas") is the most commonly employed sedative agent in dentistry. As used in dental offices today, nitrous oxide is not a particularly potent sedative. It is, however, highly effective in inducing relaxation in patients with anxiety. One of the biggest advantages...