Abstract: 

This will review the article, “Should Kids Be Sedated for Dental Work?” published in The New York Times on August 24, 2017. This review will further review whether kids should be sedated for dental work. Sedation drugs has been a very popular method which was used by doctors to be able to cooperate with the patients during surgeries. However, if sedation is not used correctly it can lead to the death of patients which is the main reason many people are against this idea. Usage of sedation drugs might also result in immense health issues including death , however it should not be banned. The same way these drugs have taken lives, they have also saved many lives as well.

Should Kids be Sedated for Dental Work ?

“Should Kids be Sedated for Dental Work?” is written and posted on The New York Times by Catherine Saint Louis,  a graduate student from Oxford University.. In this article Louis explains how sedation is a popular technique that is used to allow patients to relax during dental surgeries. This usually  involves inhaling nitrous oxide which is known as laughing gas resulting in patients feeling dizzy, or swallowing a liquid sedative. In some cases, children fall into a much deeper level of sedation then needed. Individuals argue that this comes with intense problems such as heart problems or trouble breathing which have led to death. Sedation however is a necessary procedure to allow doctors to be able to maintain dental hygiene. This article will further review whether kids should be sedated for dental work by explaining that sedation may have negative effects but it can be very helpful as well.

Even though sedation may lead to the death of patients, it is also a very helpful procedure. Sedation must be performed by qualified doctors to avoid any intense problems. “In rare cases, children fall into a much deeper level of sedation than intended. If they aren’t rescued quickly, they may stop breathing or even die. It is critical for the dental staff to keep track of the patient’s vital signs and quickly recognize an obstructed airway or a problem with the heart or breathing.” (Saint Louis, 2017)  Sedation must be performed very safely by an experienced doctor, and a doctor who knows how to deal with sensitive scenarios. “The risk is small but there’s always a risk when you sedate a child, primarily of airway obstruction, where the child — for whatever reason — becomes oversedated,” said Dr. Joseph P. Cravero, a senior associate in perioperative anesthesia at Boston Children’s Hospital. A doctor with good experience has the knowledge of the different dosages that each child can handle which will allow them to perform this procedure safely. The idea of being sedated may seem dangerous but according to the article when done so carefully it is a very helpful procedure. 

Sedation needs to be performed with intense medical care present. The patient needs to be observed at all times to be able to observe any unusual activity. “A dentist’s office generally has fewer hands on deck than a hospital if trouble strikes. “If you are working in a hospital, you press a button, an alarm goes off and everyone comes to help with that kid,” Dr. Cravero said. But in an office, “you end up having to call 911 for help” and the dentist must begin resuscitation during the wait.”  (Saint Louis, 2017) They patients need to be observed by highly trained practitioners who know how to act quickly and are able to make sure the patient is breathing correctly. “ Some children are particularly vulnerable during sedation because of their youth, anatomy or other factors. Enlarged tonsils may increase the chance of airway obstruction”(Saint Louis, 2017) Even though sedation is a very precise procedure, many patients just like us will need to adhere to medical assistance in our lifetime, one being sedation. Knowing the problems of sedation we can use that knowledge and make conditions better and use it to our advantage.

“The Pediatric Sedation Research Consortium — which collects data mostly from hospitals, not dental offices — has found a low but persistent rate of life-threatening events associated with sedation, such as airway blockage, a drop in blood oxygen levels or a spasm of the vocal cords that makes breathing hard.” (Saint Louis, 2017)  To avoid a situation like this “intubation” can be used. This will provide the patient with instant breathing support which will avoid the problem of oxygen shortages caused by the sedative drugs. This example shows that sedation itself is not an issue when performed under the right circumstances by the right experienced medical professionals. 

Even though sedation is a very precise procedure, many patients just like us will need to adhere to medical assistance in our lifetime, one being sedation. Knowing the problems of sedation we can use that knowledge and make conditions better and use it to our advantage. Even though lives have been taken due to sedation, many have been saved. Sedation can be a lifesaver when used by the right medical professionals. 

References:

• Louis, Catherine Saint. “Should Kids Be Sedated for Dental Work?” The New York Times, The New York Times, 24 Aug. 2017, www.nytimes.com/2017/08/24/well/family/should-kids-be-sedated-for-dental-work.html?searchResultPosition=8.

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