The definition:

Conscious sedation is a controlled, pharmacologically induced process. It is characterized by a minimal level of consciousness which retains patient’s ability to maintain a patent airway independently and respond appropriately to physical stimulation. Sedation & General anesthesia are a part of the pharmacological techniques for management of children and adults.

What is nitrous oxide?

Itss the only agent used with inhalation technique that meet the requirement of sedation is nitrous oxide

Properties of nitrous oxide:

• Sweet smelling, colourless, inert gas
• Heavier than air.
• Nonflammable but supports combustion.
• Always coupled with more then 40% O2.
• Rapidly absorbed from lung alveoli with rapid excretion when concentration gradient is reversed.

Nitrous oxide rapidly enters the alveoli and as a result, the oxygen present become diluted. this is due to the fact that nitrous oxide is 34 times more soluble than nitrogen.
To overcome this problem :
Nitrous oxide concentration during maintenance phase should  be kept as low as possible. (Usually 30%). It is recommended that the patient be maintained on 100% O2 for 5-10 minutes after the procedure.

Equipment used for delivering nitrous oxide-oxygen

The machine is of continuous flow design type with flow meters capable of accurate regulation. A fail-safe mechanism that provides automatic shutdown if oxygen falls below 20% with audible and visual alarms is an important design feature. There should be a flush-lever for easy immediate flushing of the system with 100% oxygen

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• March 27, 2009 -- Properties and systemic effects of nitrous oxide (0)

What is Teething?

Teething is a time when babies may need extra comforting. Teething is a natural process that all babies go through. It can start as early as 3 to 4 months or as late as 12 to 14 months of age. Giving your baby a chilled teething ring to chew on will ease the discomfort and help the teeth come through the gums. It could be very painful for your child but not necessary every child will feel the same way. Some children might not have any discomfort at all until one day the first tooth erupts.

Teething toys

What we know for sure is that babies all grind during teething. The best way to prevent them from chewing any thing they find on the floor, is to give them teething toys.By having their favourite toy they won’t need to chew their fingers. Chewing fingers can become a habit that involves mal eruption of baby teeth.

This is not recommended:

Teething Gels: The effect of teething gels only lasts for a few seconds. The danger is using too much, which can numb the baby’s throat, causing choking.Teething biscuits can cause cavities, especially in new baby teeth. The biscuits quickly get soft and mushy so they don’t help the baby’s gums anyway.Raw vegetables and other foods that can choke a baby when pieces break off.During teething, it is normal for babies to drool more, feel cranky, and try to put things in their mouth.Babies who have fever, diarrhea, or vomiting should be taken to the doctor.

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Teething is a natural process that all babies go through. It can start as early as 3 to 4 months or as late as 12 to 14 months of age.Teething is a time when babies may need extra comforting. It could be very painful for your child but not necessary every child will feel the same way. Some children might not have any discomfort at all until one day the first tooth erupts.

What we know for sure is that babies all grind during teething. The best way to preventthem from chewing any thing they find on the floor, is to give them teething toys.

By having their favourite toy they won’t need to chew their fingers. Chewing fingers can become a habit that involves mal eruption of baby teeth. Giving your baby a chilled teething ring to chew on will ease the discomfort and help the teeth come through the gums.

Teething Gels: The effect of teething gels only lasts for a few seconds. The danger is using too much, which can numb the baby’s throat, causing choking.

Teething biscuits can cause cavities, especially in new baby teeth. The biscuits quickly get soft and mushy so they don’t help the baby’s gums anyway.

Raw vegetables and other foods that can choke a baby when pieces break off.

During teething, it is normal for babies to drool more, feel cranky, and try to put things in their mouth.

Babies who have fever, diarrhea, or vomiting should be taken to the doctor.

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• February 19, 2009 -- Baby Bottle caries (1)

Most of the parents  are not aware of the fact that even though their newborn baby doesn’t have teeth in his mouth caries activity is always present in the baby’s mouth. This happens because, Caries = Bacteria + sugar + saliva.

The presence of teeth in s your baby’s mouth is not a must for caries activity.

Here are some ways that dentists and pediatricians recommend using in preventing  any early decay on your infant’s primary teeth:

1. Wipe your baby’s teeth and gums everyday to help prevent baby bottle tooth decay.
2. Dentist recommend baby wipes they provide the fastest, most convenient way to clean your baby’s teeth and gums everyday.
3. Wiping should occur after feedings, especially at bedtime.

Wash cloth instructions

Step 1:

• Lay your baby on your lap with his/her head close to your body. If it is easier for you, you can also lay your baby on a secure surface and stand next to him/her to clean his/her gums.

Step 2:

• Wet a wash cloth in warm water. Squeeze the excess water from the cloth, so the towel is damp, but not dripping wet.

Step 3:

• Wrap the wet wash cloth around your finger. Tickle the bottom lip of your baby’s mouth to get him/her to open his/her mouth if she does not do so automatically.

Step 4:

• Gently rub your cloth-wrapped finger over your baby’s gums. Start all the way on one end of the bottom gums and continue across until you reach the other end. Repeat the procedure for the top gums.

Step 5:

• Clean your baby’s gums at least twice a day. Better yet, clean them after every feeding.

A mouth swab or gauze pad can also be used in the same way.

Tips

• Cleaning your baby’s gums also helps him/her to get used to the sensation, which makes tooth brushing easier later on.

Other tips

• Infants should not be put to sleep with a bottle containing a liquid other than water.
• Infants should be encouraged to drink from a cup prior to their first birthday.
• Infants should be weaned from the bottle at 12-14 months of age.
• Infants should start to supplement their diet with non liquids at 4-6 months of age.
• Juices should only be offered from a cup.
• Good oral hygiene should be started as soon the first teeth appear.
• Within six month of the first signs of the first tooth (no later than the first birthday) it is time for the first dental visit.
• Don’t share utensils, cups, or toothbrushes, since that might help spread the bacteria that can cause cavities from your mouth to your baby’s mouth.
• Avoid giving your baby too much fruit juice, and no fruit juice before six months, or any fruit drinks
• Give your baby fluoridated water once he/she is six months old, keeping in mind that many brands of bottled water don’t have fluoride added to them.
• The pacifier dipped in honey is another bad habit. Honey needs to be avoided in the first year of life and also soda in their bottle.

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Baby bottle tooth decay is the main type of tooth decay in infants.

Infants and older toddlers who are given a baby bottle to bed or are allowed to carry around a bottle during the day are at risk for this type of tooth decay. Reports with prolonged and unrestricted nighttime breast-feeding have also been related. The milk is being spread around the front teeth and the sugar found in breast milk, can contribute to this caries process.

Although the decay can start soon after your child’s first baby teeth appear, the problem is often not noticed until about the age of one.

The earliest signs are white spots on the teeth – commonly seen on the upper front teeth, they are usually damaged first.

What causes it?

Baby bottle tooth decay is the main type of tooth decay in infants.

Infants and older toddlers who are given a baby bottle to bed or are allowed to carry around a bottle during the day are at risk for this type of tooth decay. Reports with prolonged and unrestricted nighttime breast-feeding have also been related. The milk is being spread around the front teeth and the sugar found in breast milk, can contribute to this caries process.

Although the decay can start soon after your child’s first baby teeth appear, the problem is often not noticed until about the age of one.

The earliest signs are white spots on the teeth – commonly seen on the upper front teeth, they are usually damaged first.

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• February 19, 2009 -- Why do babies chew toys? (0)