Evaluation of the sedative effect of rectally administered diazepam for the young dental patient.

Abstract

Rectal diazepam was evaluated for its sedative effect on the difficult-to-manage child in the dental setting. A placebo was used as a control. In a double-blind study, 12 uncooperative patients with a mean age of 3.75 years were selected using the Frankl scale, Ratings I and 2. Each child was seen fbr an initial examination and 2 standardized restoratfve treatment visits. Randomly, a dosage of 0.6 mg/kg of either diazepam or sodium chloride was dispensed through a soft, rubber catheter. Videotapes were recorded for bot}i treatment visits on all children during a specific 6-min segment. These were reviewed later by 3 judges using a kinesics/vocalization instrument. The results of this study indicated that rectal diazepam (0.6 mg/kg) is an effective, predictable, and safe sedative which adapts: well to the routine dental appointment for the young pediatric dental patient.