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Conscious sedation is a form of behavior modification in which a liquid medication is administered to a fearful and apprehensive child to help relieve anxiety. It is most beneficial for extremely apprehensive children, children who require a lengthy procedure, children who have extensive decay, or children who do not have the ability to cooperate. Whether or not sedation is required for a procedure can usually be determined by a child’s behavior at their first visit. If sedation will be necessary to complete treatment, pre-sedation instructions and a consent for treatment will be reviewed with you at your initial patient visit. When the patient returns for the sedation appointment, we will have the child drink a small amount of medicine that will help him/her relax significantly. Once the child is relaxed and ready for treatment, we do place the child in a protective wrap to ensure their safety and our safety during the procedure. Monitors are used during a sedation procedure to evaluate the child’s oxygen saturation and heart rate. Once the procedure is complete, most children will exhibit symptoms such as drowsiness, slurred speech, partial or temporary loss of motor coordination, and the ability to see or say things out of the ordinary. Conscious sedation is a viable alternative to nitrous oxide analgesia if the patient meets the proper criteria for this kind of treatment.
