Rectal administration of midazolam for conscious sedation of uncooperative children in need of dental treatment.

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of rectal midazolam on uncooperative children. The trial included 120 children at the age of 16 months to 10 years and six months (X = 4.5 years). The children were referred because behavioural management techniques alone had failed. On 225 treatment occasions the children received midazolam, 0.3 mg/kg body weight rectally 10 mins before treatment. The degree of sedation was assessed by the dentists after 10, 15, 20, 45 and 60 minutes. 60% of the treatments were fulfilled without difficulty. 39.6% of the treatments could be performed with some difficulty and with the help of parents preventive holding. Only one mentally handicapped patient showed non-acceptance. No side effects were noted during the treatments. After 107 treatments the parents were asked about the total time their children seemed sedated. After two hours 86 children were still considered sedated but after three hours only four of them seemed effected by the drug. Midazolam has shown in this follow-up to be an effective and safe drug for premedication of infants in the stressed dental situation. The advantage to for example diazepam lies mainly in the shorter period of time of sedation.