Pulse rate and oxygen saturation in children during routine dental procedures.

To understand the state of hypoxemia and how it occurs, one must first understand the concepts of blood oxygen tension, arterial oxygen saturation, and the blood's methods for carrying oxygen and delivering it to body tissues. One device that allows detection of decreases in patients' oxygenation levels, before a dangerous situation is reached, is the pulse oximeter. It is easy to apply and remains secure, and will not interfere with dental procedures. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect routine dental procedures have on heart rate and SaO2 in unsedated children, ranging in age from five to seven years old.