Sedation Using Nitrous Oxide in Children with Special Health Care Needs

Abstract

“Know me for my abilities, not my disabilities.”—Robert Hensel. To be able to successfully treat children with special health care needs is one of the most satisfying yet the most challenging aspects of our day. Many of us are in pediatric dentistry to be able to better serve these children. When discussing care for children with special health care needs, we must adopt the “People First” language. This means respecting the child or the individual first, and realize that he/she has unique abilities, interests and needs. They are first and foremost a person, and their “disability” does not define them. This chapter discusses the role nitrous oxide can play to facilitate the delivery of dental care to children who may need little more attention, love, and care from us than other children. Will nitrous oxide be safe for a child with asthma? Will it be helpful for kids with ADHD? Many a times, such patients and their parents are left with no other option but to accept the use of general anesthesia for dental rehabilitation. Perhaps with some experience and understanding of nitrous oxide, the use of general anesthesia may be avoided in some of the children with special health care needs.