4 Things To Know About Deep Sedation For Dentistry
Posted on: 26 September 2018
One of the most serious sedation options used in the dental practice is deep sedation. This is often only used in serious dental cases when medically necessary, as deep sedation is seen as a medical procedure. Here are a few things that you need to understand about deep sedation.
#1. You're Fully Asleep During the Process
When your child is put into deep sedation, they are given sedation drugs intravenously. That means that the drugs are put directly into their blood stream, either through a shot or through a line that is inserted into their arm.
Deep sedation is designed to put your child to sleep. Your child will be fully asleep and will not be aware of what is happening to them. Your child may move and make some sounds like they normally would when they are asleep; however, they are not aware of what is happened to them and are not likely to remember anything about the dental procedure or appointment.
#2. Recovery Takes Time
It will take time for your child to recover from deep sedation. Since the drugs go into your child's blood stream, it takes time for the drug to work its way through your child's system. Your child may sleep past when the procedure is done. When they wake up, they may still feel groggy and sleepy. It can take a few hours for the drugs to wear off. Your dentist and the medical professionals who administer the drug should be able to let you know how long the amount of deep sedation will impact your child based on the amount of drugs given and your child's weight and specific medication conditions.
#3. Requires Additional Medical Monitoring
Deep sedation cannot be done by a dentist alone. It should be done by an anesthesiologist. There should be an anesthesiologist who monitors your child the entire time. Your child should be hooked up to monitors in order to monitor both their breathing and their cardiovascular systems, as both can be impacted by the intravenous drugs used with deep sedation. Your child should be monitored by a professional who is just keeping track of your child's vitals through the entire procedure until your child wakes up.
#4. Breathing Assistance Is Sometimes Needed
Sometimes, with sedation dentistry services, breathing assistance is needed. Tubes may be put in your child's nose to help with breathing as a mask is not practical when your child is sedated for a dental procedure.
Deep sedation is only used in dentistry if other sedation options, such as mild to moderate sedation, do not work for the procedure or will not work to handle the anxiety or sensory issues that you have. Deep sedation should only be undertaken under the watchful care of an anesthesiologist, along with your dentist.
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