Pulse Oximetry in Dentistry

Like surgery, some dental procedures also require anesthesia administration to promote a convenient and painless operation on the part of the patient. Some clients, especially those who have phobias, prefer to be administered with a sedative to alleviate their anxiety and make them calm throughout the entire procedure.

Sedatives are a class of drugs known to cause calming, relaxation, and oftentimes unconsciousness. In dentistry, the effects of sedatives are reduced to a minimum so that the patient is simply relaxed, on a sleep-like state, but still awake. However, on some scenarios, a patient may be given moderate to deep sedation based on his level of anxiety. The drugs for sedation dentistry may be swallowed, injected intravenously, or inhaled. Many have benefitted from sedation dentistry that’s why it is becoming more popular in clinics.

During sedation, significant desaturation periods may occur, particularly in children. This poses a risk of hypoxemia which is recognized as a serious complication. Hence, a pulse oximeter may prove useful to detect early signs of hypoxemia and respiratory depression.

A pulse oximeter is considered to be a very reliable and a very sensitive tool in identifying low blood oxygen saturation, which is why doctors and surgeons prefer oximetry for continuous monitoring or even periodical assessment of a patient’s status. It measures the saturation of oxygen in a person’s blood to detect whether it is still under normal concentrations. They are typically found in hospitals and operating galleries where anesthesia is more likely to cause respiratory depression. It is also proper to use a pulse oximeter during dental procedures because of the possibility of hypoxemia.

The choice of a pulse oximeter for dentistry should consider probable interferences such as excessive movements brought about by high levels of anxiety. The solution is to pick a type that is portable and motion-resistant. There are also devices that are built for pediatric use while others have added features such as a pletysmograph display, and blood pressure monitoring. There are models of pulse oximeters, but generally they are categorized as fingertip, handheld, and stationary type. Both fingertip and handheld pulse oximeters are commonly found in ambulatory settings because of their low cost but equally excellent results.