OBJECTIVETo assess the safety, effectiveness and influential factors of oral midazolam sedation for reducing dental fear in children with dental fear.

METHODS30 children with traumatic dental experience, who were classified as 1 by Frankl behavior rating scale, were included in the study. Each child was treated under sedation with oral midazolam (0.5-1.0 mg x kg(-1)), and totally 46 person-time sedation treatments were conducted. At each visit, heart rate, arterial oxygen saturation, persistent period and treatment types were recorded. Treatment performed was rated by Houpt scale. Telephone following up was performed to record the side effects 24 h after treatment.

RESULTSIn all of the 46 person-time treatments, the heart rate, arterial oxygen saturation levels were within acceptable clinical limits. 37 person-time planned treatments (80.4%) were completed satisfactorily. Oral sedation was ineffective in 9 person-time treatments (19.6%), and only a part of planned treatments were completed. Dysphoria after treatment is the main side effect. Children over 3 years old had a high success rate than those under 3 years old. And the success rate of treatment had no relation with sex, dose and treatment types.

CONCLUSIONOral midazolam could be a safe and acceptable approach of sedation for pediatric dental patients with dental fear, especially to the children over 3 years old.