A 3-year-old child presented with a chief complaint of upper lip swelling, followed by a localized gum boil in the same region. Clinical and radiographic evaluation revealed severe early childhood caries (ECC).
Due to lack of cooperation, conventional non-pharmacological behavior management techniques were inadequate for chairside treatment.
A pharmacological behavior management approach was therefore adopted. The child was managed using intranasal midazolam in combination with nitrous oxide inhalation sedation, enabling adequate anxiolysis and cooperative behavior.
Treatment was completed over three phased visits, achieving comprehensive full mouth rehabilitation entirely on the dental chair—successfully avoiding the need for general anesthesia in this age group.
The patient is currently on regular recall follow-ups for oral health monitoring and preventive care.
This case highlights the effectiveness of chairside sedation protocols in enhancing patient compliance and facilitating safe, efficient pediatric dental rehabilitation.
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