Our doctors and staff are focused toward safety in providing dental care in our office. The doctors at Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic Specialists of Michigan wants our patients to be aware with the scientific and public health stance on the topic of lidocaine anesthetic use in children.
In a recent development, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued its strongest possible warning message — called a Drug Safety Communication and Boxed Warning — in regards to prescription oral viscous lidocaine two percent solution. On the surface, this seems like it might be something we need to avoid but let us explain why the FDA made this change.
The point of the warning was to make sure infants and children with teething pain do not have this product applied to their gums because when applied or administered in doses exceeding certain levels, lidocaine can also lead to seizures, brain injury, heart problems and — even death.
Overdose cases due to wrong dosage or accidental ingestion have harmed infants and children. No health care professional should prescribe or recommend this product for teething pain, and the FDA goes even further by encouraging parents and caregivers not to purchase and use over-the-counter lidocaine because of its possible adverse effects.
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) issued its own statement that they hope parents and caregivers will follow to properly manage the issue of teething.
Teething, or the eruption of teeth through the gums, of course can be somewhat painful and upsetting to infants. It can cause irritability and excessive salivation and many parents try to provide comfort for their children by applying substances to the teeth and gums. Using over-the-counter gels to either relieve pain or prevent discomfort is NOT recommended by the AAPD, especially when it comes to infants. Their little bodies are unable to properly handle the potential toxicity in the product, as their organs just can’t clear the byproducts of a medication like lidocaine in an efficient manner yet.
“Based on the June 26 warning issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on how oral viscous lidocaine solution is not approved to treat the teething pain of infants and children, we want to impart to the lay public that teething is a normal part of childhood and that we recommend offering non-medicinal alternatives in addressing teething pain,” AAPD President Dr. Edward Moody said. “The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that all children have their first dental visit as soon as teeth begin to come in, and no later than Age One, which provides the dentist with an opportunity to discuss proper tooth care with parents and caregivers, including ways to deal with teething pain.”
We will follow up by saying that controlled dosage of lidocaine in the dental office used in the provision of comfortable dental care for children is not part of this warning by the FDA. This warning is in place due to the bevy of over the counter products available for purchase that include lidocaine for home use in an uncontrolled manner. While we always limit the amount of medication used for any child, it is still very common and safe for lidocaine type anesthetics to be used in the dental office for children and adults today.
The best course of action is to stay away from uncontrolled lidocaine when it comes to infants and young children. It is unnecessary in terms of improving or maintaining oral health and it carries potential dangers that can be very serious. If you should have any questions or concerns about your child’s dental development or difficulty in dealing with the teething phenomenon, please call us for a visit with one of our wonderful pediatric dentists so they can have an opportunity to talk with you and provide you with possible solutions.
About Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic Specialists of Michigan, the offices of Drs. Delaney, Plunkett, Ralstrom, Makowski, Thanasas, Ker, and Associates
Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic Specialists of Michigan have specialized in pediatric dentistry and orthodontics since 1968. Our family-friendly office gives patients and families a more comfortable and consistent experience with dentistry from the very beginning. The pediatric dentists treat children from newborn to 18 years of age while our orthodontists provide care for both children and adults, including being an Invisalign preferred provider. The ability to treat all special needs patients reaches beyond our facility, which has treatment rooms available for children who require additional privacy. Valued hospital affiliations allow dental services to be performed at DMC Children’s Hospital when needed.
Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic Specialists of Michigan
39400 Garfield Rd., Suite 200
Clinton Township, MI 48038
586-286-0700
www.mychildsteeth.com
