Sedation Dentistry
Imagine your child undergoing a complex dental treatment like a root canal, extraction, or oral surgery. When treatment is complete, your child will have no recollection of the time it took, the pain, the noise, or the discomfort. We are pleased to offer your child the option of comfortable, safe, and effective sedation dentistry. Our pediatric dental patients who benefit from sedation dentistry have:
- A fear or anxiety of being at the dentist
- A hard time sitting still for long periods of time
- A hard time getting (and staying) numb from anesthetics
What is sedation dentistry?
Sedation dentistry allows your pediatric dentist to provide a variety of dental treatments safely and comfortably for children who experience anxiety when visiting the dentist. There are several benefits to sedation dentistry, including:
- No memory of undergoing the procedure
- No sense of time while under sedation
- No sense of smell or sound
- No fear or anxiety during treatment
Levels of Sedation
Sedation dentistry is closely regulated by law, and there are three sedative states at which your child's dentist can administer treatment: mild sedation, moderate sedation, and deep sedation.
- Mild Sedation: Nitrous Oxide is the used when a patient has mild to moderate apprehension levels. Mixed with Oxygen it can provide you with a relaxed feeling while getting your treatment completed. While concious the entire time, at the end of the appointment the Nitrous Oxide is turned off and is flushed from your system with 100% Oxygen. This allows you to procede with your normal schedule right away.
- Moderate Sedation: This type of sedation is usually administered orally. Your child will remain awake or very sleepy throughout the entire procedure and will be able to breathe normally, but he or she will feel a great sense of relaxation. This medicine provides the patient with 30 minutes of amnesia so if there is a negative experience, they wont remember it. The memory is back after 30 minutes but coordination can take up to four hours to regain full mobility.
- Deep Sedation: General Anesthesia is recommended if there is a large amount of treatment to be completed and would take several visits in the office. This type of sedation is completed in an operating room setting at the hospital where the child is completely put under and is monitored by an anesthesiologist. Typically all treatment is finished in one appointment. A follow up visit may be scheduled with your pediatric professional.
How are sedatives administered?
- Inhalation — Nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, is the most frequently used method for easing mild to moderate anxiety. Recovery is quick so your child can resume normal activities immediately.
- Oral — An extremely common technique for dental sedation is oral sedation. It is easy and does not require the use of IV's. Your child will be given a prescription liquid which is taken in the office and monitored closely. The childs memory is gone for 30 minutes allowing us to complete dental treatment. Recovery takes about 4 hours at home.
Please contact our practice to schedule a consultation, learn more about sedation dentistry, and find out which sedation dentistry method may be right for your child.
