Evaluating the Success of Rapid Titration on Children with Different Temperament during Nitrous Oxide Inhalation Sedation in a Pediatric Dental Setup.

Abstract

Effective management of pediatric dental patients often requires pharmacological intervention when behavioral techniques fail, with nitrous oxide/oxygen (N₂O/O₂) sedation being a common choice for anxiety and pain relief. The aim is to assess how temperament influences sedation success and compare physiological responses like O₂ saturation (SpO₂) and pulse rate between the two methods. This research aims to improve personalized sedation strategies in pediatric dentistry. Conventional slow induction gradually increases the N₂O concentration, while rapid induction administers a higher concentration initially to calm the child quickly. A total of 54 pediatric patients aged 3-9 years were assessed for temperament using behavioral scales and then randomly assigned to slow induction and if not benefited with slow titration, the second visit was under rapid titration. Sedation success was measured by RASS scale, patient cooperation, oxygen saturation, pulse rate, and adverse events during the procedure. Initial findings indicated that children with temperamental negative affect benefited more from rapid induction, achieving quicker sedation, with no variations in oxygen saturation and pulse rate. Overall temperament had an impact on sedation success though the result showed no significant associations between titration method and gender, age, or temperament scale scores. Child temperament plays a crucial role in sedation outcomes. Personalizing sedation protocols based on temperament could optimize pediatric dental care and improve patient outcomes in the future.

How to cite this article: Singh D, Gupta N, Gambhir N. Evaluating the Success of Rapid Titration on Children with Different Temperament during Nitrous Oxide Inhalation Sedation in a Pediatric Dental Setup. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2025;18(5):522-526.