Our main concern is to provide high quality care and a positive dental experience for your child. Sedation is recommended in order to help accomplish these goals as easily and as comfortably as possible. The particular combination and dosage of medications selected is individually tailored to your child’s needs. Though we do not “put children to sleep”, the use of sedative medications may help your child relax, nap lightly, and relieve fear and anxiety. However, keep in mind that all children respond to medications in different ways. In fact, some children exhibit a reverse effect and become hyperactive and more uncooperative. To help insure a successful sedation appointment your understanding and cooperation of the following is important. Sedation will be given orally in liquid form.

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Before the Appointment

• It is very important that you notify us of any change in your child’s health within a few days of the scheduled appointment (including a cold or fever). For the child’s safety, we will be happy to schedule a new appointment for another day on our very first opening. We do not sedate children that are ill.

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• Clothing

  Please have your child wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothing. Pajamas are totally acceptable and recommended.

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• Medications

  Please do not give your child any other medications the day of the appointment unless discussed with Dr. Leslie Jacobs prior to the appointment.

   

  PLEASE DO NOT GIVE YOUR CHILD ANYTHING TO EAT OR DRINK INCLUDING WATER AFTER MIDNIGHT THE EVENING PRIOR TO THE APPOINTMENT. This will allow the medication to work well and will help your child avoid vomiting which may result in complications during sedation.

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Following the Appointment

If your child goes home and doesn’t take a nap do not be concerned, as each individual child acts differently. Closely supervise his activities and do not allow him to engage in active play (running, jumping). Make the day quiet and relaxing.

Do not send your child to school.

 

For the next 3-4 hours, the symptoms that your child can exhibit may include:

• Lack of coordination or dizziness (please do not let him engage in physical activity, crankiness or irritability tiredness, sleepiness, lethargy, or trance-like appearance.

 

Most children tend to go home and take a nap. After about 2 hours gently wake him but do not be alarmed if your child returns to nap for 4-5 more hours.

 

Since we requested you do not feed your child before the appointment, he/she may be hungry. Please delay the consumption of solid foods until the numbness from the local anesthetic wears off. Cool liquids such as light colored fruit juices or Gatorade will help reduce nausea and help stimulate the patient to be more alert. Soft foods that do not have to be chewed are better during the numb period.

 

Give Ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) not Tylenol 6 hours after the assistant administered it so your child will be comfortable. The assistant will give you the time for the next dose prior to you leaving our office.

 

Special Parking for Your Appointment

When you arrive for your appointment, we have reserved a special area for you on the side of our office closest to where your child receives treatment. The area is the last few parking spots located toward the back of the building closest to the fence near the side entrance.