Conscious Sedation by Midazolam and Ketamine in Pediatric Dentistry - A Review

Abstract

Management of an uncooperative behaviour is important in treating a child in a dental office. Young, uncooperative children needing extensive dental treatment are difficult to manage, for these children, conscious sedation or general anesthesia are the primary treatment options that allow comprehensive restorative dental care. To control the pain and anxiety in pedodontic patients, pharmacologic sedation like anesthesia and analgesia are commonly used. Safe sedation of a pediatric patient requires a thorough knowledge of the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the drugs used to sedate the patient and the skills necessary to deal effectively with potential adverse events as a result of the sedation. conscious sedation can be very supportive in allying anxiety, uneasiness, fear and minimizing an uncooperative child's attempt to resist treatment procedures. There are a variety of drugs available that can be used for conscious sedation for dental office procedures. Pediatric sedation technique should ideally be customized for the patient and the procedure to be performed. The present review discusses the various aspects of conscious sedation and its application in pediatric dentistry