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Sep 25, 2006 6:21 pm US/Central
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Dental Guide For Parents When Child Is Sedated
Questions Parents Should Ask Before Dental Procedures
by Mary Ann Childers
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
No parent wants what happened to 5-year-old Diamond Brownridge to happen to their son or daughter. The young girl remains in a coma after being sedated during a dental procedure.
Our dental guide may help calm some fears by telling you what to ask before your child goes under.
CBS 2's Medical Editor Mary Ann Childers has questions parents should ask before their children undergo complicated or scary dental procedures.
Going to the dentist can be a terrifying experience for some kids.
"We use the area of sedation when children have some level of anxiety," said Dr. Indru Punwani, UIC Pediatric Dentistry Chair.
But it's not used often -- only about 5 percent of the time.
Parents should know what medications are being used, how they're being given, the dose and the risk. They should also ask about the level of sedation necessary to get the work done safely.
If it's mild to moderate, the child may still respond to voice or touch. If it's deeper, an anesthesiologist may be a necessary part of the team.
"When we do an IV sedation, we have a dental anesthesiologist that comes in. So he takes care of everything with the anesthesia part. I take care of everything with the dentistry," said Dr. Joanne Oppenheim, a pediatric dentist.
Whatever level of sedation, monitoring is key.
"That's essential. That's part of it and that's required by the standards," Punwani said.
Vital signs should be watched at all times.
"We would never leave a sedated child by themselves," Oppenheim said.
Parents should make sure the office is equipped to handle an emergency, should one happen. Ask to see the dentist's license and his or her permit to perform sedation.
"Ask as many questions, questions, questions. It's the only way you'll learn," Oppenheim said.
Illinois requires a permit for sedation -- one for conscious sedation, mild or moderate and the other for deep or general anesthesia.
It's the person who gets the permit, not the office. Some offices have dentists who are permitted to perform sedation, while others aren't. So always ask.
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)