Your experience with Oral Sedation in children's dentistry?

My 8 1/2 year old son with autism is going to have dentistry work done where they will administer oral sedation along with nitrous oxide and local anestehesia. The last time he had extensive dental work done, we was administered iv sedation and was totally asleep. What has been your experience with your child and the oral sedation? Do they feel alot? How awake are they? I was told alot of children will go to sleep (which is what I would prefer). Any tips or stories would be greatly appreciated!

Your experience with Oral Sedation in children's dentistry?
I work in a pediatric dental office. The doctor never uses sedation. The only anestehesia she will use is novacaine. She is the only doctor in the area who will work with handicapped and autistic children (and adults) and she doesn't use sedation on them either. She said most dentists use the sedation on children just to make it easier for them and charge more money. If you find a good dentist the sedation won't be necessairy.





I've had experience with nitrous oxide when I had my wisdom teeth out. It just makes you really loopy. With the novacaine you won't feel anything except for the prick shot to inject it.





I really do think you should look into finding a local specialist to work with you and your son so that he won't need to be sedated. Being in a pediatric office, I know it can be done since we work with children all day everyday.





If you let me know what area you are in I could ask the doctor if she knows of anyone good in your area.
Reply:I remember when I was a child, my dentist would always give me nitrous for some reason instead of just novacaine. I had it three or four times, and every time I would have HORRIBLE dreams/visions. One time I can remember seeing this huge motor in the room, it was just there and nothing else in the room was present, and my vision was focusing in on it. It was this huge steel motor, I don't know why I saw it but it really scared me.





The only other one I can remember was when I was a little older, maybe around 9 or 10. I was getting a tooth pulled and he administered the NO again. I was like oh great...so he put it over my nose and after a few minutes it takes effect...this was very strange, but my field of vision split into four pieces, each of them moving diagonally, away from the center, in small squares. In the spaces in between the squares, it looked just like outer space - it was all black and I could see stars shimmering. It was crazy. I actually freaked out and pushed the mask off my face and they had to put it back on. It was so strange seeing split up sections of my vision slowly come back together...





Man I'm glad I don't have to get that stuff anymore. But not everyone has bad dreams, some just have weird ones - which I guess mine just were, but they freaked me out nonetheless.
Reply:I don't know about children, but I've had oral sedation. (I'm a big chicken when it comes to the dentist!) I've had oral sedation twice, once to have my wisdom teeth removed, and once for another problem tooth and some fillings.





I can say it was the best dental experience of my life. I was prescribed the pills, and took them upon arrival at the dentist's office so I could be monitored. When I was getting drowsy they took me back to the room, where I was also given nitrous oxide. I felt the first shot going into my gum, and remember them saying, off and on, "Open your mouth," or "Keep it open." And that's all. I woke up and was done.





Just be careful afterward, because he will sleep for a while before the drugs wear off. The pills I was given, Halcion, made me forget everything about the experience. They also made me very clusmy afterward.





I'd do it again in a second, if I had to get more work done. It costs more, but it's worth it for a good experience.