Oral Sedation

Our main concern is to provide high quality care and positive dental experience for your child. Sedation is recommended in order to help accomplish these goals easily and as comfortably as possible. Your child will not be asleep but will remember only what you tell them after the procedure. The particular combination and dosage of medications selected is individually tailored by weight to your child’s needs. It will help your child by providing complete amnesia for 3 hours preventing the child from being emotionally traumatized. Keep in mind that all children respond to medications differently. Some children exhibit calm behavior, and some become more uncooperative. To help ensure a successful sedation appointment your understanding and cooperation 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). Forth 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 for their safety. 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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Medications

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

Arriving

We ask that a responsible adult accompany the child to the office and remain until the treatment is complete.

Activities

Do not plan future activities for your child the rest of the day. Allow your child to rest and plan to make the day quiet and relaxing.

Clothing

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

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Following the Appointment

If your child goes home and doesn’t take a nap don't be concerned, as each child acts differently. Closely supervise their activities and do not allow them 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 may exhibit include: Lack of coordination, dizziness, irritability, sleepiness, or lethargy. Most children tend to go home and nap.

Since we request 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. Soft foods that do not have to be chewed are better during the numb period. Your child will be given Ibuprofen with the sedation medication. Give Ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) not Tylenol every 6 hours after the initial dose so your child will have no discomfort. The assistant will give you the time for the next dose prior to you leaving our office.

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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 labeled SEDATE PARKING.

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