DAY OF YOUR APPOINTMENT

 

MEDICAL EVALUATION. Your anesthesiologist will telephone you the day before the procedure. Your medical history is reviewed and an anesthesia plan is discussed in detail. The evaluation provides you with the opportunity to ask any pertinent questions related to anesthesia. Please contact the office if you have a cold or a medical condition within a week of you appointment.

 

ANESTHESIA  IV (intravenous) sedation is not General Anesthesia. The patient does not need to be paralyzed. IV sedation does not require a breathing tube or a respirator. Patient will be breathing spontaneously with supplemental oxygen via a nasal cannula.

 

Most young children will need to be sedated prior to an IV ( intravenous)  catheter placement. Sedation sleep is induced within about 5 minutes via an injection of medications in the upper arm  similar to flu shot. For calming effect, the child should sit on a parent’s lap for the injection. A small intravenous (IV) catheter is then placed in the arm or the hand for additional drug administration. The patient remains sedated until the treatment is completed.  

 

During the sedation, a balanced salt and sugar  fluid solution are administered to replace food and liquids. Vital signs are monitored continuously with monitors such as blood pressure, EKG, pulse oximeter, CO2 and breathing monitor. Once the treatment is completed, the family members are then asked to remain with the patient in the recovery area for 30 minutes to 1 hour before leaving the office.

 

Because of  liability insurance policy, parents or family members do not stay in the treatment area during the procedure. We ask that family members remain in the office waiting area until the work is completed.

Safety of our patient is the number one priority in our office. The dentist and doctor  are trained in CPR, BLS, and/or ACLS, PALS. The office is equipped with drugs and equipment for resuscitation (CPR) in case of an emergency.