Managing Dental Anxiety in Children: The Role of Minimal Sedation
Location
Speaker
Dr Tamara Peric
Tamara Peric is a Professor at the University of Belgrade School of Dental Medicine. She graduated in 2001, defended her MSc thesis in 2005, and earned her PhD in 2011. She is a specialist in paediatric and preventive dentistry. Her publications include more than 80 articles in peer-reviewed journals, over 170 conference papers, and 12 co-authored books. She serves on the editorial boards of several academic journals and is a co-editor-in-chief of the Balkan Journal of Dental Medicine. Her particular expertise is in prevention and non-invasive/minimally invasive treatment of dental caries, glass-ionomer cements, dental traumatology, and oral health research. For her work, Professor Peric was awarded the IADR Centennial Award for New Investigators (2020), the Award (2016) and Plaque (2018) of the Serbian Medical Society, and the 1st prize for Clinical Research of the IADT (2010).
Organizer
Abstract :
A certain number of pediatric dental patients demonstrate limited cooperation due to dental fear and/or anxiety, which may present a significant challenge in both planning and provision of dental treatment. The goals of sedation in pediatric dental patients are to ensure patient safety and facilitate coping with treatment, to minimize discomfort and the perception of pain, and to control anxiety while minimizing psychological trauma. Oral midazolam or nitrous oxide/oxygen inhalation sedation are commonly used modalities for sedation in contemporary pediatric dentistry. Minimal sedation should be combined with behavioral management techniques to effectively reduce dental anxiety and improve patient cooperation. Adverse events associated with minimal sedation are rare and most commonly related to improper technique or excessive sedation depth. Such risks can be significantly reduced through adequate professional training and strict adherence to clinical guidelines. The lecture will discuss patient selection, indications and contraindications, and clinical protocols for minimal sedation in pediatric dental patients.
Learning objectives :
- To understand the principles of patient selection for minimal sedation in pediatric dental patients.
- To describe indications and contraindications for the use of minimal sedation in pediatric dentistry.
- To describe the advantages and limitations of oral midazolam and nitrous oxide/oxygen inhalation sedation.
- To present the clinical protocols involved in the safe and effective application of minimal sedation.
Registration : https://skzledu.sk/en/sdd-2026/