Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Small Smiles Dental Center wants to put my child to sleep for dental treatment-Good idea?

 

I can’t answer that. 

But I can tell you that the nasal spray of “midazolam” along with nitrous oxide gas- inhalation sedation (IHS) - was studied on 100 children between the ages of 3 and 13, who were originally referred for “general anesthesia” and 96% of the required dental treatment was completed successfully.  There was no need for general anesthesia and parents were present with the children during the procedure. 

The National Institute of Health recommends this technique instead of Dental General Anesthesia. (DGA)

You can read the study for yourself here:
The safety and efficacy of intranasal midazolam se... [SAAD Dig. 2010] - PubMed result

Of course skilled dentists and staff as well as life saving equipment and medication is a must! 

I can tell you general anesthesia is close to death, and I’ve lost count of the number of children who have died in the last two years. (8) and rising.

I can tell you seven studies of Inhalation sedation, using nothing but nitrous oxide (along with local numbing), without the nasal spray have taken place.  These studies also used children who had been referred for general anesthesia.

The studies were reported to have a “remarkable degree of consistency in the reported treatment effectiveness despite other differences in patients”. 

What were the results? 

“Inhalation sedation (HIS) is effective for a large proportion (83-97%) of the children who would have had general anesthesia.”

“Death associated with HIS is minor and infrequent, and satisfaction is high”

“IHS requires longer time per visit and more treatment sessions per patient”. 

Read the study here:
Inhalation sedation with nitrous oxide as an alternative to dental general anesthesia for children.

Back to the original question.

One dentist has another opinion and doesn’t like to use Verased in this manner, and my guess he is on target.  Verased and any other medication including the Nitrous is dangerous.

My point in this is, don’t let anyone, rush you to a surgery center or hospital for a non emergency dental  procedure until you know everything-who, what, when, where, and why!

If a family member were asking me the question, first I would blow because they were at this dental mill, then my answer would be, NO WAY, NOT A CHANCE, OVER MY DEAD BODY.  I don’t care who they have hired to do the general anesthesia at the hospital or surgery centers, nor how much they are paying the part-time pediatric dentist required by the surgery center to do the deed, NO FRIGGIN’ WAY.

Remember your child is a number to them.   The “powers that be” have “budgeted” -set a quota - for the center to take to surgery this week.  They have a goal to meet and they intend to meet it, come hell or high water.  Bonus time!

Watch out Charleston, SC Small Smiles dental center patients!  Be careful Massachusetts patients, don’t become victims.  You guys are at high risk!

By sedating 400 or more children a week, it won’t take long for the odds of death to hit, will your child be the next Small Smiles dental patient to die?  I pray not.  But it is gonna happen, we all know it.

AAPD on General Anesthesia
Risks
Other studies and reports
Meet the Dead Children