Pre and Post Sedation Instructions Children

BEFORE Sedation Instructions for Children

  1. Do not eat or drink anything for 8 hours prior the appointment: To help with the absorption of the drugs and reduce nausea and vomiting, your child cannot have anything to eat or drink after midnight the night before the appointment. IF THEY DO EAT OR DRINK ANYTHING YOUR CHILD CANNOT BE SEDATED.
  2. If your child is sick: To maximize safety, your child should not be ill the day of the procedure (i.e., no severe cough, congestion, cold, fever). If your child is sick or taking any medicine for their illness, please call the office immediately so we can discuss the situation with you and make arrangements accordingly.
  3. Comfortable clothing: It is best to dress your child in comfortable clothes as pajamas, sweat suit, or play clothes for this procedure. No pajamas that cover their feet
  4. Favorite toy or blanket: It is often relaxing for your child to bring a favorite toy or blanket to use while medication is taking effect.
  5. Medications: Give your child only those medications which he or she routinely takes, such as seizure medications. Do not give any medications used for ADHD or ADD unless instructed to do so by our pediatric dentist. Prophylactic antibiotics, those given 1 hour prior to dental appointments, should be brought to the sedation appointment and the doctor will dispense and administer this to your child at the appropriate time.

AFTER Sedation Instructions

  1. Fluids: Your child should be encouraged to drink liquids every 15-30 minutes for the remainder of the day and continue resting.
  2. Lip biting or chewing: Do not allow your child to chew or bite for at least 3 hours after the procedure.
  3. Rest: Your child will be drowsy for 5-6 hours after the appointment; SUPERVISION by an adult must be arranged. If your child wants to sleep lay them on their side and wake them every 15 minutes to check on them.
  4. Discomfort: If discomfort is present afterwards give your child the weight appropriate dose of children’s acetaminophen (Tylenol) or children’s ibuprofen (Motrin) for the remainder of the day or next morning. DO NOT GIVE YOUR CHILD ANY OTHER MEDICATION WITHOUT CHECKING WITH DR. CLOUSE FIRST.
  5. Bleeding: A slight oozing of blood from the mouth for a day is considered normal. Call our office if there is excessive bleeding. Sometimes a little blood mixed with saliva may appear to be excessive bleeding.
  6. Diet: Maintain a liquid diet for the first 4 hours after returning home and then a soft diet for the remainder of the day (Soups, pasta, eggs, oatmeal, yogurt, Jell-o, applesauce, mashed potatoes). AVOID HOT AND SPICY FOODS.
  7. Brushing: Gentle brushing with a soft toothbrush and a pea-sized amount of toothpaste can begin that evening. It is important that an adult brushed the child’s teeth and not just watch the child. A clean mouth will heal sooner.
  8. Crowns and Space Maintainers: If your child has had any of these placed, it is important that no hard or sticky candy be eaten from now on. Hard and sticky candies will pull the crowns or space maintainers off their teeth. There may be slight bleeding from around the crowns for a few days. This is normal and it is important to continue brushing these teeth and the gums to help them heal faster.
  9. Activities: Allow your child to rest after the treatment. Do not plan or permit activities for the remainder of the day. It is common for children to sleep for up to 3 hours after the procedure. Check to make sure your child sleeps on his/her side. YOUR CHILD NEEDS TO AVOID STAIRS FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE DAY.
  10. Fever: Your child’s temperature may be elevated to 101° for the first 24 hours. Fluids will help alleviate this condition. If the temperature goes above 101°, please call our office.
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