Patient Education GA

General Anesthesia is recommended for high anxiety children, very young children, complex dental treatment, pre - existing medical conditions, and children with special needs that would not work well under conscious sedation or I. V. sedation.  General anesthesia renders your child completely asleep.  This would be the same as if he/she was having their tonsils removed, ear tubes, or hernia repaired.  While the assumed risks are greater than that of other treatment options, if this is suggested for your child, the benefits of treatment this way have been deemed to outweigh the risks.  Most pediatric medical literature places the risk of a serious reaction in the range of 1 in 25,000 to 1 in 200,000, far better than the assumed risk of even driving a car daily.  The inherent risks if this is not chosen are multiple appointments, potential for physical restraint to complete treatment and possible emotional and/or physical injury to your child in order to complete their dental treatment.  The risks of NO treatment includes tooth pain, infection, swelling, the spread of new decay, damage to their developing adult teeth and possible life threatening hospitalization from a dental infection and death.

Prior to your appointment:

Do not eat or drink (including water) 6-8 hours prior to your surgery. If ignored, this could lead to cancellation of the case. It is very important that your child is an empty stomach when anesthesia is administered.  This will reduce the danger of vomiting and inhaling stomach contents into the lungs while asleep.

Please, arrive 30 minutes prior to your appointment time.

Patient is required to have a history and physical (H & P) done by their pediatrician or nurse practitioner. Fax or bring the completed H & P to the surgery location 48 hours prior to the case.

Please notify us of any medical or health changes with your child. Do not bring your child for treatment with a fever, ear infection or cold.  Should your child become ill, contact us to see if it is necessary to post pone the appointment.

You must tell the doctor of any medications your child is currently taking and if any medications had reactions in the past.

The child's parent or legal guardian must remain at the hospital or surgical site during the the complete procedure. Having two adults accompanying the child patient to the office/hospital can be helpful for the drive home. Do not bring other younger brother or sisters to the appointment.  Your (parent/guardian) attention needs to be directed toward the child's health.

Patient should wear loose - fitting clothes that are easy to remove and put back on.  It is always a good idea to bring an extra change of clothing for your child, as it is possible they may have an accident. If, your child wears diapers or pull-ups make sure they are fresh and that you bring some extra on the day of the precedure.  Please, remove all the jewelry prior to the surgery.

The anesthesiologist makes the final decision to cancel the patient's appointment.  This decision is made in the best interest of your child's health.

Your child may be drowsy after the procedure. Please, plan a low activity day with slow progression to regular diet.  Your child's diet should include clear liquids for first several hours after the surgery to maintain hydration.  Soft foods such as chicken broth soup, noodles, rice, Jell - O,  or apple sauce  are more appropriate.  Many children resume back to their daily activities on the following day.

If you are unable to Keep your appointment, please notify our office IMMEDIATELY.  Failure to give us sufficient notification of at least 1 week in advance will result in a cancellation fee of being charged to you for the reserved surgical facility.

If you have any other questions, please give us a call at 708 579 (KIDS) 5437  Fax # 708 387 8206  Email: S4Ldental@gmail.com

4727 Willow Springs Rd. La Grange IL 60525

After the appointment:

Following the sedation or general anesthesia, two adults must be available to drive the patient home.

Your child will be drowsy and will need to be monitored very closely.  Keep your child away from areas of potential harm.

If your child wants to sleep, place them on their side with their chin up.  Wake your child every hour and encourage them to have something to drink in order to prevent dehydration.  At first it is best to give your child sips of clear liquids (water, apple juice, Gatorade) to prevent nausea.  The first meal should be light and easily digestible.

If your child vomits, help them bend over and turn their head to the side to insure that they do not inhale the vomit.

It is normal for your child to have a sore throat, slight fever and complain of nose pain or mouth pain.  This usually passes within 24 hours.

Prior to leaving the hospital/outpatient center, you will be given post op instructions and an emergency contact number if needed.

Conscious Sedation

According to American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, sedation is recommended for your child’s safety and comfort during dental procedures.  Sedation can help increase cooperation and reduce anxiety and/or discomfort associated with dental treatment. Sedative medication is selected based upon your child’s overall health, level of anxiety, and the dental treatment recommendations. Conscious sedation does not make the patient unconscious or unresponsive.

     Once the medications have been administered, it may take up to 45 minutes to one hour before your child shows signs of sedation and is ready for dental treatment.  Some children may not experience relaxation but an opposite reaction such as agitation or crying. These are also common responses to the medicines and may prevent us from completing the dental procedures.  In any case, our doctor and staff will observe your child’s response to the medication and provide assistance as needed.

For your child’s Safety, you must follow the instructions below.

Prior to your child’s sedation appointment.            

•  Please notify our office of any change in your child's health and/or medical condition. Fever, ear infection, nasal or  chest congestion, or recent head trauma could place your child at increased risk for complications.  Should your child  become ill just prior to a sedation appointment, contact our office to see if it is necessary to post pone the sedation.
•  Tell us about any perscribed, over - the - counter, or herbal medications your child is taking.  Check with us to see if    routine medications should be taken the day of the sedation.  Also, report any allergies or reactions to medications that  your child has experienced.

•  Your child should not eat or drink after midnight.  Your child should arrive empty stomach to the appointment.  Your child should not have solid food at least 8 hours prior to their sedation appointment and only clear liquids for up to  6 hours before appointment.  Fasting decreases the risk of vomiting and aspirating stomach contents into the lungs, a  potentially life-threatening problem.  We will not proceed with the sedation if your child does not comply with  fasting restrictions.
•  Dress your child in loose fitting comfortable clothing. This will allow us to place monitors that evaluate your child's  response to the medication and help ensure your child's safety.  These monitors may measure effects on your child's  breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure.
•  Try not to bring other children to this appointment so you can focus your attention on your child undergoing the      sedation.

  During the Sedation appointment:

• Please make sure that your child goes to the bathroom immediately prior to arriving at the office.
• If any sedative medications are administered before your child is taken tot he treatment room, we will ask you to watch your child closely as he/she may become sleepy, dizzy, unsteady, uncoordinated, or irritable.  You will need to remain next to your child to prevent injuries that may occur from stumbling and falling.  Do not let them "run around."
• The child's parent / legal guardian must remain at the office throughout the sedation appointment.  You may not leave the office for any reason.

• The doctor and staff will evaluate your child's health status before he / she will be discharged home.  Every child recovers from effects of sedatives at different rates so be prepared to remain at our office until the doctor has determined your child is stable and after - effect  are minimal.
• At discharge, your child should be responsive but may be drowsy, crying or fussy.

After the Sedation appointment:

• Once home, your child will still be drowsy and must remain under adult supervision until fully recovered from the effects of the sedation. If your child wants to sleep, position your child on his / her side with the head supported and the chin up.  During this period, check your child's breathing and airway.  If your child is snoring, reposition the head until the snoring disappears and your child breathes normally. If breathing becomes abnormal or you are unable to arouse the child, contact emergency services 911 and call us immediately.
• Nausea and vomiting are occasional side effects of sedation.
• Wake your child every hour and encourage them to have something to drink.  You may give him / her sips of clear liquids to prevent nausea and dehydration.  Small drinks taken repeatedly are preferable to large amoounts.  The first meal should be something light and easily digestible (i.e. soup, Jell - O, apple sauce). Do not give fatty  or spicy foods (i.e. French Fries, Pizza, Milk, Cheese, Yogurt)
• Children may be irritable after treatment.  If this occurs, stay with your child and provide a calm environment.  If you believe the irritability is caused by discomfort, you may give child acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil).  Follow the instructions on the bottle for dosing based upon your child's age/ weight.
• A slight fever (temperature to 100.5 F) is not uncommon after sedation.  You may give your child acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil).  Follow the instructions on the bottle for dosing based upon your child's age/ weight.
• Because dehydration may cause a slight increase in temperature, clear fluids may correct this condition.  If a higher fever develops or the fever persists, call our office.
• In addition to the sedative medications, we often use local anesthetic to numb the mouth during dental treatment.  The numbness usually lasts 2 - 4 hours.  Watch to see that your child does not bite, scratch, or injure the cheek, lips or tongue during this time.
• If your child had teeth removed, there might be some minor bleeding at the extraction sites. Place a firm pressure with the gauze for 30 minutes to stop the bleeding. Do not use straws or spit because this may dislodge the blood clot and infect the area.
• If your child had stainless steel crowns or space maintainers placed, the surrounding gums of these teeth may be irritated and sore. This sensitivity usually only lasts for 24 hours.  Avoid sticky candies and bubble gums because they may dislodge the crowns or space maintainers.
• If your child had white crowns or white fillings placed, they may initially feel sensitivity to cold at those teeth and this discomfort gradually disappears. Avoid sticky candies and bubble gums because they may dislodge the fillings or crowns.

  Please feel free to call our office at 708 579 5437 for any questions or concerns that you might have.