Children who are more anxious may need a stronger medicine than nitrous oxide. Several of these medicines are given by mouth (orally). When choosing a medicine, the dentist will consider your child’s:

•Anxiety level

•Ability to cooperate

•Treatment needs

With oral sedation, your child may be sleepy but can be awaken. He or she also can respond to simple commands. Minor side effects such as nausea or vomiting can occur with some medicines. Before a visit in which your child is to receive oral sedation, you should receive instructions on how to prepare for sedation.

During sedation, your child should be completely relaxed and cooperative with the procedure. However, every child reacts differently with the same dose of medication. Some children may still resist treatment. Noises from dental procedure may cause child to react. Because your child will not be able to remember the treatment, parents will have the choice to continue with restraint or to postpone treatment. Treatment will stop if it is too difficult to complete the treatment in a safe and pain free manner. In the event that this occurs, the dental procedure may have to be postponed until an alternative course of treatment can be arranged.

After the treatment is completed, your child will be moved to the recovery room. In the recovery room, your child will slowly wake up as medication wears off. Children usually wake up from sedation quietly. There is a rare side effect of the medication known as the ‘Angry Child Syndrome’. Children act very angry and there will be nothing that will help to sooth your child. Your child will slowly calm down over time and will not remember this experience.

It takes about 24 hours for the medication to completely leave the system. Postoperative instruction will be given before your child is discharged from the office.