Kids and the dentist?

Question

My friends daughter was at the dentist and apparently was a little scared (nothing major, according to her.) The dental assistant thought it would be a good idea to give this 6 year old a valium (not sure of the dosage) to which her my mother agreed (my friend is the father). This kid was high as a kite for two days, slurring and not being able to walk. I'm incensed, as is the father. Can anyone tell me if this is common or should my friend take some kind of action?

Now why the hell would I make a stupid question like this up? anyway, the father was at work during the appointment and the mother is a bit of a loon. ANd I forgot to mention she was only getting cavities filled, it wasn't anything major.

Answer 1

I agree with the other dentists that have answered in that rarely is it necessary to give Valium to a child. The other alternatives mentioned are usually enough. As to the availability of controlled substances in the office, in many states dentists are allowed to keep drugs in their office-I don't because the paperwork and need for monitoring are both unacceptably great-to be used in appropriate situations. If the father thinks there was an abuse, he should be encouraged to report it to the state dental board for further investigation(assuming the dentist has been contacted and failed to give adequate justification or explanation). As practitioners, we should be held accountable for our actions in the office.

Answer 2

Medication should never be dispensed without parental consent, and the doctor - not the assistant - would make the decision. Are you saying the child's mother agreed?

Dosage is usually determined by body weight. I've seen many children given Halcion which is a similar relaxant. Usually the effects only last a few hours, the child is sleepy and doesn't recall most of the visit.

If the mother agreed to the medication and is the custodial parent, this is something the father should take up with the mother. Sounds as if the dental office acted within "standard of care".

Was the father there during the appointment? Does he know how much fear was involved?

Edited to add: I've known some offices to keep Halcion onhand, but it is rare. It is far more commonly prescribed for anxiety than Valium. Again, if the mother consented - even if she is a "loon" - the practice did nothing illegal.

Answer 3

I'm hard pressed to believe this is a legitimate question but to answer, first of all a dental assistant is not allowed to give any medications whatsoever nor even is the hygienist. Meantime a dentist very rarely would prescribe valium for an adult let alone a child. Since valium is a prescription medication someone would have had to have a prescription written for them, had it filled and had it available in the dental office therefore it would be illegal to give it to a patient. Valium is just a drug that is sitting on the shelf to be used randomly and is not used in that setting by that level of caregiver. Again, I think there is something fishy about this question.

Answer 4

one unfortunate side effect of valium and all other benzodiazepines is the presence of reactive breakdown products. that means that your liver breaks down the valium but the break down products also have intoxicating effects. valium, which is tried and true for many years, is by far the worst one for this. and in a kid, you can always expect effects to be worse and longer acting.

i don't sedate kids for the exact reason that you are posting. the aftermath of stoned kids doesn't make anyone happy. i prefer the use of nitrous oxide because there are no side effects compared to valium. this is an approved treatment though and i do refer kids to the pediatric dentist all the time for this procedure.

Answer 5

Would never dream of doing such a thing.

Usually for kids if they wouldn't let you do it under LA you would try RA(relative Anesthesia) or Nitrous oxide but not enough to knock the kid out.

Valium is a very unreliable form of sedation especially for children.

Answer 6

far to many dentist are doing that now days!my sister took her little girl to a new dentist and they sais that they were gonna do that to her 5 yr. old and she said that she saw how doped up all of the kids were in there ,so she walked out and found a dentist that would just use gas!and when she told that dentist about it ,he even agreed that far to many were over doping up kids now days!

Answer 7

check with the family doctor! O.o those kinda things are only suppose to last for only a few hours. O.o