Dexmedetomidine sedative therapy offers superior clinical reliability and safety in pediatric dental sedation, enhancing cooperation, and sedation depth, and decreasing the need for postoperative analgesia when used alongside local anesthetics.
According to a study published in BMC Oral Health, Dexmedetomidine, an alpha-2 agonist, was found to be a more effective and reliable choice than Midazolam for managing dental sedation in preschool children.
Dental anxiety remains a major concern in pediatric dentistry worldwide, with procedural sedation being a key solution for managing uncooperative young patients. This triple-blind randomized controlled trial involved 72 healthy children aged 4–6 years, divided into three groups:
The children's responsiveness, analgesic effects, and treatment ease were assessed throughout the session using established clinical scales - Modified Observer’s Assessment of Alertness and Sedation Scale; the FLACC (Face, Leg, Activity, Cry, Consolability) behavioural pain assessment scale and a 5-point scale.
Results showed that Dexmedetomidine considerably improved children’s responsiveness during procedures compared to both Midazolam and the combination. Additionally, although the analgesic effects were similar across all groups, the Dexmedetomidine group showed a notable advantage regarding treatment completion ease.
BMC Oral Health
Effect of Dexmedetomidine with or without Midazolam during procedural dental sedation in children: a randomized controlled clinical trial
Amira A. ElKhatib et al.
Comments (0)