Introduction:

The possibility of offering dental care under sedation or general anesthesia is increasingly requested by parents or guardians, particularly in pediatric or special needs patients, due to difficulties in communication and poor cooperation with treatment.

Objectives:

This narrative literature review was conducted with the aim of determining the indications for sedation and/or general anesthesia for dental treatment in children, as well as describing the different options for sedation or general anesthesia, and establishing criteria for the discharge of patients treated under sedation or general anesthesia.

Methods:

A literature search was conducted in the PubMed database using the keywords "pediatric dentistry," "conscious sedation," and "general anesthesia," with the filter "published in the last 10 years." Relevant publications on the subject, including review articles or observational or cross-sectional studies, were included. Publications on adult patients, as well as case reports, were excluded.

Results:

Twenty-nine publications were included in this review.

Conclusions:

The indication for a specific degree of sedation or general anesthesia will depend on the patient's level of cooperation, medical history, and the extent of the dental treatment required. The main risks of these procedures include respiratory alterations and allergic reactions, among others. After the procedure, the patient will be monitored until discharge criteria are met before discontinuing observation.

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