Sedation
There are three types of sedation: nitrous oxide (laughing gas), IV sedation, and hospital/general anesthesia. Depending on your situation and health, our doctors will know exactly which anesthesia is best for you.
Nitrous Oxide Sedation
Inhalation sedation uses nitrous oxide and oxygen (laughing gas) to help your child’s body achieve a relaxed state. This is the most popular form of sedation used in pediatric dentistry today. The majority of children benefit by the use of nitrous oxide during their dental treatment, to make the experience calm and pleasant.
IV Sedation
IV sedation is administered and monitored by an anesthesiologist in our office surgery suite while our pediatric dentist completes dental treatment. This option is for our patients with high dental anxiety who are not able to complete treatment in a traditional office setting. We are able to complete all the dental work in this visit, and the child has no recollection of the treatment. We evaluate each individual patient to determine which sedation is appropriate.
Hospital/General Anesthesia
Sometimes children are unable to cooperate or require too much dental work to be completed in the office. These children may be treated in a hospital or surgery center setting under general anesthesia. Here, an anesthesiologist monitors and keeps the patient comfortable while the pediatric dentist is able to complete the needed treatment. This setting enables children who cannot cooperate in the office to have all of their dental work completed in one visit and have no recollection of the treatment.
We are very experienced in treating children in the hospital setting and may recommend this treatment in certain cases. Please feel free to ask questions during your child’s examination appointment to help understand what has been recommended for your child.
