Clinical effectiveness of inhalation conscious sedation with nitrous oxide and oxygen for dental treatment in uncooperative paediatric patients during COVID-19 outbreak

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the features of inhalation conscious sedation for urgent dental treatments in uncooperative paediatric patients during COVID-19 outbreak. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-two uncooperative patients, attending primary and secondary schools, were submitted to emergency dental treatments with inhalation conscious sedation using nitrous oxide and oxygen during COVID-19 pandemic. Collected data included: number of working sessions, success/failure, adverse events, side effects, number of teeth treated; type of dental procedure. Parents filled in an e-mailed questionnaire on post-discharge children status to evaluate: pain; crying; fever; vomiting; headache; drowsiness; excitability; irritability; ability to eat; need for drugs. RESULTS: One working session was carried out in 29 patients, 2 working sessions were carried out in 6 patients and 3 working sessions were carried out in 7 patients. Success rate was 87.1%. In relation to success, there was no statistically significant difference between males and females, healthy and disabled patients, respectively; while there was a statistically significant difference between patients attending primary and secondary schools (p=0.023). No adverse events occurred. The most frequent side effect was nausea. In relation to side effects, there was no statistically significant difference between males and females, healthy and disabled patients, patients attending primary and secondary schools, respectively. In relation to e-mailed questionnaires on post-discharge children status, 29.6% of the patients had pain, 22.2% vomited, 14.8% had headache, 18.5% experienced drowsiness, 29.6% failed to eating normally, 35.2% needed to take drugs. None of the patients cried, had a fever, exhibited irritability and excitability. CONCLUSION: Inhalation conscious sedation is a safe, practical and effective procedure with minimal side effects to perform emergency dental treatments in uncooperative paediatric patients during COVID-19 outbreak.