Effect Evaluation of Conscious Sedation With Nitrous Oxide at Control of Stress During Dental Care in Individuals With Cerebral Palsy.

Were invited and accepted to participate in this study, 77 individuals with Cerebral Palsy who attended the outpatient clinic of San Francisco Home School (SFHS) at the time of data collection.

This study served as a non-randomized experimental trial conducted between 2011/2012 at dental ambulatory in the SFHS. Dental care routines have been established, by standardizing procedures and ensuring the reproducibility of the method of sedation. In the initial consultation, medical history taking (collecting sociodemographic data of the participants) and dental examination was performed. Data relating to the Cerebral Palsy clinical standard were collected from medical records of patients and noted in the evaluation sheet developed specifically for this research. Were provided to guardians the clarifications regarding sedation technique and treatment planning.

At dental examination the diagnostic criteria of caries followed those proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO). On the second visit, the patient was stabilized in the dental chair under mechanical contention. Performed adaptation and selection of nasal mask, monitoring equipment were positioned, starting the observation and recording of the behavioral and physiological records in the evaluation sheets. The proportion of gas was manipulated relative to the percentage between nitrous oxide and oxygen to achieve optimal sedation. In this study, it was considered a good sedation for Cerebral Palsy patient when he showed a certain degree of relaxation, which becomes more cooperative with treatment.

Behavioral assessment in relation to dental treatment was measured by Venham's Score, standard used for behavioral assessment of the dental patient, and the measurement performed according to the patient's behavior during the dental procedure.

Due to the subjectivity which compose the diagnosis of diseases or behavior analysis, it is common to occur some variation in the results. In the specific situation of a study, there is the aggravation of multiple observations be conducted on the same day, so that fatigue could lead to inconsistent diagnoses. For this reason, only one patient per day received dental care with nitrous oxide (N2O). In light of the above considerations, two dentists were calibrated to evaluate behavior in Venham's Score.