Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness among several sedation regimens used in our postgraduate pediatric dental clinic.

Materials and Methods: This retrospective chart review included records of patients who received non-IV sedation at a post-graduate pediatric dental clinic. Age, gender, weight, height, BMI, behavior by Frankl score at prior exam, compliance taking medication, wait time, duration of the treatment, number of sextants treated, number of teeth completed, type of treatment completed, Frankl score at sedation appointment, and dosages of the sedatives were collected. Data were analyzed by Wilcoxon paired test, Pearson's Chi -- squared test, and logistic regression model. A p value of < 0.05 was considered significant.

Results: 624 charts met the inclusion criteria. 50% nitrous oxide was used along with sedation regimens. The most frequent drug combination was meperidine and hydroxyzine. The overall effectiveness of the sedation was 62.7%. No significant difference was reached among different drug regimens (p = 0.23). Overall, there was no difference in Frankl scores between the treatment planning exam and sedation visit (p = 0.25). Several factors were found to associate with the outcomes of the sedation: behavior at prior exam (p < 0.001), compliance taking medicine (p = 0.006), wait time (p < 0.001), duration of treatment (p < 0.001), sextants of treatment completed (p < 0.001), and number of teeth treated (p < 0.001).

Conclusions: There was no difference in overall behaviors at the prior exam and at the restorative appointment with sedation. Almost two thirds of the sedations were successful, but the success rates did not differ among drug or dosage combinations. The level of cooperation at the treatment planning appointment was a strong predictor of sedation success.