Ask the Dentist with Dr. Mark Burhenne

Episode #60: How do I know when my child needs pediatric sedation?

May 24, 2022

53:06

If your dentist has recommended that your child undergo a pediatric sedation, it’s completely normal to feel anxious about it (even though only one in a million of these procedures has a negative outcome). In today’s episode, Dr. B. is joined by specialist pediatric dentist, Dr. Staci Whitman, who is going to equip you with information that will make the whole idea a lot less scary. Dr. Staci explains the value of pediatric sedation, and why she prefers general anesthesia over oral or IV sedation. She also explains how she makes the decision about whether or not a child needs to be sedated, and shares examples of important questions that you should ask your child’s dentist prior to the procedure. Cavities are the number one chronic disease in children globally, and Dr. Staci recommends taking your child to a pediatric dentist from as young as 6 months so that you can prevent the need for pediatric sedation later on!

Key Points From This Episode:

A mother expresses her concerns about her two year old undergoing sedation to have his cavities treated [0:03:18]
An introduction to specialist pediatric dentist Dr. Staci Whitman [0:06:50]
Comparing oral sedation, IV sedation, and general anesthesia [0:10:12]
Why Dr. Staci doesn’t use oral sedation in her office [0:10:52]
Dr. Staci explains why she performs general anesthesia with a board certified anaesthesiologist present [0:13:49]
Paradoxical reactions that children can have to oral sedation [0:15:49]
The number of pediatric sedatives that Dr. Staci performs each month [0:17:35]
How Dr. Staci decides whether to do a pediatric sedation or not [0:17:55]
The importance of finding a pediatric dentist whom you trust [0:19:48]
Examples of questions that you should ask your dentist prior to the sedation [0:21:07]
Statistics which highlight how the safety of anesthesia has improved over the years [0:23:35]
Symptoms which indicate a dental emergency [0:25:38]
The extent of insurance coverage for pediatric sedation [0:27:58]
Why Dr. Staci likes to see children from the age of 6 months old [0:28:41]
When Dr. Staci will use nitrous oxide instead of sedating a child [0:29:56]
Benefits of taking your child to a pediatric dentist rather than a regular dentist [0:32:26]
How education can reduce the need for pediatric sedation [0:35:33]
Common causes of upper teeth decay in young children [0:37:45]
Other areas of your child’s life that can be negatively impacted by tooth decay [0:41:01]
Dr. Staci shares a summary of her advice regarding pediatric sedation [0:44:40]