PRE-SEDATION INSTRUCTIONS

In order to ensure the most pleasant and comfortable dental experience possible, your child will be receiving some sedative medication at the next appointment. This is not general anesthesia. It is a level of sedation that will relax your child and relieve his/her anxiety to allow us to complete the planned dental treatment with as minimal an amount of emotional trauma as possible. Most children will “nap lightly.”

Conscious sedation usually involves a combination of several medications. The particular combination and dosage of medications selected is individually tailored to your child’s needs. In addition a cloth positioning/restraining wrap will be used during treatment to prevent unintentional movement that could cause injury during delicate dental procedures. The use of this wrap also ensures that the patient remain in a proper position to maintain a clear breathing passage. Our intent is to produce cooperative patients of the future who value good dental care – no adults fearful of the dentist.

In order to help ensure a successful sedation appointment, your understanding of and cooperation with the following is necessary:

Eating and drinking
Do not give your child anything to eat or drink at least 6-8 hours prior to the dental appointment. This helps to avoid vomiting and resulting complications during sedation.

Medications
Do not give your child any medicines before or after the sedation appointment unless the dentist has prescribed them or they have been approved previously.

Change in health
Notify us as soon as possible of any change in your child’s health (for example, a cold) during the week prior to the dental visit.

Arriving
Two responsible adults should accompany the patient to the office and must remain until treatment is completed (one adult to drive home and the other to monitor the child.) Plan to arrive early for your appointment. Do not bring other children to this appointment due to the length of this appointment and the limited capacity of our waiting room.

Activities
Do not plan further activities for your child on the day of this appointment. Allow your child to rest and plan to make the day quiet and relaxed.

Dress
Dress your child in light, comfortable clothing. We will need access to the big toe, calf and or arm for our monitor. No toenail polish, tights, footed sleepers or turtlenecks. Please bring an extra set of clothing to the appointment because some children do have accidents.