Appointment requests are NOT finalized until you speak with a PPD Team Member.

Sedation Dentistry

Comprehensive Pediatric Dental Care Under General Anesthesia
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Why Sedation Dentistry?

When Sedation Dentistry May Be Needed

Dr. Kari often says, “The only thing predictable about pediatric dentistry is that a child’s behavior can be unpredictable.”
While our mission is to provide quality, comprehensive dental care in a compassionate environment, not all children are physically, mentally, or emotionally able to tolerate extensive treatment while awake in a traditional dental setting.

For children with significant dental needs, severe anxiety, special healthcare needs, developmental considerations, or an inability to cooperate safely during treatment, sedation dentistry allows us to complete necessary care in a controlled, medically supervised environment.

Under general anesthesia, your child sleeps comfortably while our team completes treatment efficiently and safely — often in a single visit — reducing stress for both the child and the parent.

Hospital Privileges

Dr. Kari maintains privileges at the Akron Children’s Hospital Outpatient Surgery Center in Beachwood, Ohio.

With the help of the hospital staff, we are able to provide comprehensive dental treatment under general anesthesia.


Your child’s safety is always our first priority.
 

Candidate Criteria

Children between the ages of 1 and 12 years who:
  • Have extensive dental needs (fillings, crowns, extractions, etc.)
  • Have minimal medical conditions
  • Have behavioral challenges or special healthcare needs that require sedation for safe completion of treatment 
  • Have a BMI value between 1% and 99%
  • Are unable to tolerate comprehensive treatment while awake

Dr. Kari and our team will evaluate whether sedation dentistry is appropriate for your child. If your child qualifies, we will coordinate scheduling and registration with the hospital surgery center.

Please note that Social Security Numbers (for guardian and child) are required to register the child as a patient with Akron Children's Hospital.

Medical clearance is required, and your child must be free from illness in order for the procedure to take place as scheduled.

Important Steps Before Sedation

1. Medical Clearance

Akron Children's Hospital has a Peri-operative Surgical Home (PSH) Team of medical professionals who will evaluate your child's health status and hopefully approve them for treatment at the surgery center. For children who require treatment in a hospital setting, Dr. Kari will discuss with you next steps or give a referral to a children's hospital near you.
 

2. Day of Surgery

The hospital will contact you the day before the procedure with your child’s arrival time.
On the day of surgery, you will:
 
  • Sign a dental surgery consent form
  • Meet with the nurse for a pre-operative assessment
  • Meet with the anesthesiologist
  • Review the treatment plan with Dr. Kari
 
Parents/guardians should plan to be in the office for approximately 4–6 hours, including pre-operative assessments, treatment, and recovery.
A parent or guardian must remain in the building for the entire duration of the procedure.


3. Fasting Instructions

Your child must have an empty belly in order for the procedure to take place under general anesthesia. FOLLOW THE HOSPITAL GUIDELINES and adhere to their rules about when eating and drinking must be stopped before surgery.

This rule is critical for safety. Failure to follow fasting instructions may result in cancellation of the procedure.


4. Illness

If your child becomes ill before surgery, please contact the PSH Team immediately. They can be reached at 330-543-7777.

If your child is ill on the day of surgery, the anesthesiologist may cancel the procedure. In such cases, rescheduling typically occurs 4–6 weeks after your child has fully recovered. You will have to undergo another PSH visit to ensure your child meets the criteria to proceed with the sedation.


5. Treatment Plan Changes

Some dental findings are not visible on x-rays alone. And some children may not be able to tolerate dental x-rays while awake at the consultation visit. Dr. Kari may have to take x-rays to complete the diagnosis and treatment plan while your child is asleep in the operating room.

As a result, Dr. Kari may have to adjust the treatment plan based on radio-graphic and visual findings in the operating room. Any changes and updates will be reviewed with you after the procedure.

Following treatment, it is essential that your child continues routine care at your family’s dental home to maintain long-term oral health. If you do not have a dental home for your child, Dr. Kari will recommend some colleagues who are accepting new patients. 
Ppd post op

Post-Operative Care Instructions

After your child’s procedure, proper care at home plays an important role in comfort and healing. In this short video, Dr. Kari explains what to expect after dental surgery under general anesthesia and reviews key post-operative instructions to help your child recover safely.
Watch Dr. Kari’s Post-Operative Instructions

Post-Operative Care Instructions

Encourage clear liquids for the remainder of the day. If nausea or vomiting is not present, your child may progress to a soft diet. A soft diet should continue for 2–3 days, depending on the treatment performed.

If extractions were completed:
  • Do not use straws or create suction for 3 days
  • Rinse with warm salt water 3–4 times daily
  • Use a cold compress to reduce swelling

For pain management:
  • Administer children’s Motrin or Tylenol every 6–8 hours as needed
  • Medications may be alternated, spacing doses at least 2 hours apart

Oral hygiene:
  • Resume brushing the day after surgery with a soft toothbrush
  • Be gentle around crowns and extraction sockets; gums may be tender
     
Avoid sticky candies, gum, and chewy foods to protect crowns and sealants. If a crown becomes loose, contact our office within 24 hours.

For bleeding:
  • Apply folded gauze and have your child bite down for 15–20 minutes
  • If bleeding persists, a wet tea bag may be used in place of gauze

Satisfied Patients

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Request A Sedation Evaluation

Contact our office and a staff member will be happy to assist you.

(216) 938-8501
Request a Sedation Evaluation