Instructions Following Pediatric Sedation
We hope you and your child have had a positive experience at Belleville Sleep Dentistry.
Here are some reminders and answers to commonly asked questions regarding your child’s care after treatment.
After Treatment
After your child is brought to the recovery room, our registered nurse will assess them before being discharged. Children generally require 1-2 hours of recovery time before discharge is permitted. Your child must be awake, alert, able to sit-up unaided and to move with minimal assistance.
We will let you know if we used local anesthetic (freezing) to numb your child’s mouth during the procedure. If we did, please observe your child carefully for 1 ½ - 3 hours after treatment to keep him/her from accidentally biting or chewing their lips, cheeks, or tongue and/or rubbing or scratching his/her face.
Getting Home
Once your child has been discharged, you should take him/her straight home. If you are driving, make sure your child will be secure in your vehicle during the trip home, as their balance may be altered for several hours after sedation. It’s also helpful to have a second adult in the car to observe and care for your child on the way home. As discussed, public transit must NOT be used for your return trip home- only private car or taxi.
Activities
Your child should rest quietly at home and he/she must be supervised by a responsible adult for 24 hours following the discharge. If your child naps after the appointment, check them frequently to assure that their chin is up from the chest and breathing is not obstructed.
DO NOT plan or permit activities for your child after this treatment. You are responsible for ensuring your child does not fall or injure himself/ herself while medicated.
Drinking/Eating Following Treatment
Be sure that your child starts to drink liquids as soon as you leave the office. This will prevent dehydration. We suggest that the first drink following treatment be plain water or apple juice. Small drinks are better than allowing your child to fill-up all at once. If napping, remember to periodically wake them up to encourage the drinking of small amounts of clear fluids in order to avoid dehydration.
Your child should eat when he/she is ready but fatty/ greasy foods must be avoided for the remainder of the day.
Nausea and Vomiting
Nausea or vomiting is rare, as we give medication during your child’s appointment to prevent it. In the few children who do experience it, it’s usually very brief. If prolonged, first give your child small sips of Gatorade or flat ginger ale until the feeling subsides. If even water, Gatorade or flat ginger ale is vomited, give your child chewable Gravol and wait an hour before trying clear fluids again. If your child can’t keep even Gravol down, use a Gravol suppository as directed on its package. If nausea and vomiting still persist, call us.
Pain Management
Your child should experience only minor discomfort, if any, as a result of the dental treatment and sedation procedure but it is important for your child to be comfortable after treatment. Do not hesitate to use pain medication if your child displays pain related behavior such as grumpiness, crying, lethargy, seeking nurturing, irritability or verbally complaining. It's most accurate with children under 7 or 8 years of age to assess the need for pain medication based on their behavior rather than asking them. After two days your child should need little, if any, pain medication.
A small amount of bleeding from the gums around the teeth that were repaired or removed is normal, but this should stop within 24 hours. If your child had a stainless steel crown placed, it is normal for the surrounding gum to appear slightly red or irritated and/or even bleed for a few days. Use a soft brush or even baby cloth and gently brush or wipe the teeth, being careful around the tender sites.
Post-Treatment Communication with Child
When speaking to your child regarding this appointment, only positive, complimentary statements are appropriate. Even in the poorest cases, the child usually remembers only what the parent reiterates after the appointment. A positive post-treatment period will help your child build confidence in the dentist and reduce stress in subsequent appointments.
Feel free to call us if you have any concerns or if any of the following occurs:
We hope you and your child have had a positive experience at Belleville Sleep Dentistry.
Here are some reminders and answers to commonly asked questions regarding your child’s care after treatment.
After Treatment
After your child is brought to the recovery room, our registered nurse will assess them before being discharged. Children generally require 1-2 hours of recovery time before discharge is permitted. Your child must be awake, alert, able to sit-up unaided and to move with minimal assistance.
We will let you know if we used local anesthetic (freezing) to numb your child’s mouth during the procedure. If we did, please observe your child carefully for 1 ½ - 3 hours after treatment to keep him/her from accidentally biting or chewing their lips, cheeks, or tongue and/or rubbing or scratching his/her face.
Getting Home
Once your child has been discharged, you should take him/her straight home. If you are driving, make sure your child will be secure in your vehicle during the trip home, as their balance may be altered for several hours after sedation. It’s also helpful to have a second adult in the car to observe and care for your child on the way home. As discussed, public transit must NOT be used for your return trip home- only private car or taxi.
Activities
Your child should rest quietly at home and he/she must be supervised by a responsible adult for 24 hours following the discharge. If your child naps after the appointment, check them frequently to assure that their chin is up from the chest and breathing is not obstructed.
DO NOT plan or permit activities for your child after this treatment. You are responsible for ensuring your child does not fall or injure himself/ herself while medicated.
Drinking/Eating Following Treatment
Be sure that your child starts to drink liquids as soon as you leave the office. This will prevent dehydration. We suggest that the first drink following treatment be plain water or apple juice. Small drinks are better than allowing your child to fill-up all at once. If napping, remember to periodically wake them up to encourage the drinking of small amounts of clear fluids in order to avoid dehydration.
Your child should eat when he/she is ready but fatty/ greasy foods must be avoided for the remainder of the day.
Nausea and Vomiting
Nausea or vomiting is rare, as we give medication during your child’s appointment to prevent it. In the few children who do experience it, it’s usually very brief. If prolonged, first give your child small sips of Gatorade or flat ginger ale until the feeling subsides. If even water, Gatorade or flat ginger ale is vomited, give your child chewable Gravol and wait an hour before trying clear fluids again. If your child can’t keep even Gravol down, use a Gravol suppository as directed on its package. If nausea and vomiting still persist, call us.
Pain Management
Your child should experience only minor discomfort, if any, as a result of the dental treatment and sedation procedure but it is important for your child to be comfortable after treatment. Do not hesitate to use pain medication if your child displays pain related behavior such as grumpiness, crying, lethargy, seeking nurturing, irritability or verbally complaining. It's most accurate with children under 7 or 8 years of age to assess the need for pain medication based on their behavior rather than asking them. After two days your child should need little, if any, pain medication.
A small amount of bleeding from the gums around the teeth that were repaired or removed is normal, but this should stop within 24 hours. If your child had a stainless steel crown placed, it is normal for the surrounding gum to appear slightly red or irritated and/or even bleed for a few days. Use a soft brush or even baby cloth and gently brush or wipe the teeth, being careful around the tender sites.
Post-Treatment Communication with Child
When speaking to your child regarding this appointment, only positive, complimentary statements are appropriate. Even in the poorest cases, the child usually remembers only what the parent reiterates after the appointment. A positive post-treatment period will help your child build confidence in the dentist and reduce stress in subsequent appointments.
Feel free to call us if you have any concerns or if any of the following occurs:
- Persistent elevated fevers, especially ones that have not responded to pain relief medication
- Difficulty breathing, unusual snoring, or coughing