“Is it normal for kids to fall asleep with dental sedation? ”
My child needed to be sedated for his cavity filling (he needed to have two done), and when he was done, the dentist told me that he fell asleep. Now, nothing bad happened, of course, but is this a normal effect dental anesthesia has on kids? My son is 7 years old.
5 Answers
Many times children are given a sedative before dental work is done. Our dental equipment is what we need to do DENTISTRY. Adult patients sleep while DENTISTRY is done. The dental team watches over the patient. The dental chair allows the patient's head to be supported and the patient airway stays open. Dental work needs to be done, sedation helps your child to have the work done.
When you say sedated, I assume you're talking "laughing gas" or nitrous oxide and not anything stronger like IV sedation. Falling asleep at the dentist means he was relaxed and didn't feel anything, which is the purpose behind the sedation to begin with. I have had patients fall asleep in my chair while fixing cavities without any sedation, so no worries.
Yes. Very much within the normal effects of sedation.
There is spectrum of dental sedation that includes minimal sedation, moderate sedation, deep sedation and general anesthesia. As a safety precaution we are always prepared to manage a patient who goes a level deeper sedation than what we intend. This includes safely monitoring a patient. If the dentist intended moderate sedation and your son fell asleep, the assumption is that a safe, successful sedation occurred as long as the appropriate monitoring was performed.
Marc D. Thomas, DDS
Marc D. Thomas, DDS
Some patients get groggy enough to fall asleep with moderate sedation during the dental procedure. Every body might react differently to the same oral sedation drugs. This is a mild side effect from oral sedation.
Monika Tyszkowski, DDS
Monika Tyszkowski, DDS
