Mount Airy Children’s Dental Associates offers dental sedation for complex dental procedures or in cases where the patient is suffering from fear and anxiety. Our dental care team will discuss the need for dental sedation and appropriate options for the health and safety of your child.
Dental sedation is essential to any pediatric dentistry procedure or treatment your child may receive. The link below provides pre and post-sedation instructions that are imperative for a safe and successful experience. Please download and read these instructions and contact our office with any questions.
Pediatric Dental Sedation
Our office provides different types of sedation that are safe for younger patients:
Nitrous Oxide
Some children are given nitrous oxide/oxygen, or what you may know as laughing gas, to relax them for their dental treatment. Nitrous oxide/oxygen is a blend of two gases, oxygen and nitrous oxide. Nitrous oxide/oxygen is given through a small breathing mask which is placed over the child’s nose, allowing them to relax, but without putting them to sleep.
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recognizes this technique as a very safe, effective technique to use for treating children’s dental needs. The gas is mild, easily taken, then with normal breathing, it is quickly eliminated from the body. It is non-addictive. While inhaling nitrous oxide/oxygen, your child remains fully conscious and keeps all natural reflexes.
Prior to your appointment:
- Please inform us of any change to your child’s health and/or medical condition.
- Tell us about any respiratory condition that makes breathing through the nose difficult for your child. It may limit the effectiveness of nitrous oxide/oxygen.
- Let us know if your child is taking any medication on the day of the appointment.
Conscious Sedation
Conscious Sedation is recommended for apprehensive children, very young children, and children with special needs. It is used to calm your child and to reduce the anxiety or discomfort associated with dental treatments. Your child may be quite drowsy and may even fall asleep, but they will not become unconscious.
There is a variety of different medications that can be used for conscious sedation. The doctor will prescribe the medication best suited for your child’s overall health and dental treatment recommendations. We will be happy to answer any questions you might have concerning the specific drugs we plan to give to your child.
Prior to your appointment:
- Please notify us of any change in your child’s health and/or medical condition. Do not bring your child for treatment with a fever, ear infection, or cold. Should your child become ill, contact us to see if it is necessary to postpone the appointment.
- You must tell the doctor about any drugs that your child is currently taking and any drug reactions and/or changes in medical history.
- Please dress your child in loose-fitting, comfortable clothing.
- Please make sure that your child goes to the bathroom immediately prior to arriving at the office.
- Your child should not have solid food for at least 6 hours prior to their sedation appointment and only clear liquids for up to 2 hours before the appointment.
- The child’s parent or legal guardian must remain at the office during the complete procedure.
- Please watch your child closely while the medication is taking effect. Hold them in your lap or keep them close to you. Do not let them “run around.”
- Your child will act drowsy and may become slightly excited at first.
After the sedation appointment:
- Your child will be drowsy and will need to be monitored very closely. Keep your child away from areas of potential harm.
- If your child wants to sleep, place them on their side with their chin up. Wake your child every hour and encourage them to have something to drink in order to prevent dehydration. At first, it is best to give your child sips of clear liquids to prevent nausea. The first meal should be light and easily digestible.
- If your child vomits, help them bend over and turn their head to the side to ensure that they do not inhale the vomit.
- Because we use a local anesthetic to numb your child’s mouth during the procedure, your child may have the tendency to bite or chew their lips, cheeks, and/or tongue and/or rub and scratch their face after treatment. Please observe your child carefully to prevent any injury to these areas.
- Please call our office for any questions or concerns that you might have.
Outpatient General Anesthesia
Outpatient General Anesthesia is recommended for apprehensive children, very young children, and children with special needs that would not work well under conscious sedation or I.V. sedation. General anesthesia renders your child completely asleep. This would be the same as if he/she was having their tonsils removed, ear tubes, or hernia repaired. This is performed in a hospital or outpatient setting only.
While the assumed risks are greater than that of other treatment options, if this is suggested for your child, the benefits of treatment this way have been deemed to outweigh the risks. Most pediatric medical literature places the risk of a serious reaction in the range of 1 in 25,000 to 1 in 200,000, far better than the assumed risk of even driving a car daily.
The inherent risks if this is not chosen are multiple appointments, potential for physical restraint to complete treatment, and possible emotional and/or physical injury to your child in order to complete their dental treatment. The risks of NO treatment include tooth pain, infection, swelling, the spread of new decay, damage to their developing adult teeth, and possible life-threatening hospitalization from a dental infection.
Prior to your appointment:
- Please notify us of any change in your child’s health. Do not bring your child for treatment with a fever, ear infection, or cold. Should your child become ill, contact us to see if it is necessary to postpone the appointment.
- You must tell the doctor about any drugs that your child is currently taking and any drug reactions and/or changes in medical history.
- Please dress your child in loose-fitting, comfortable clothing.
- Your child should not have milk or solid food after midnight prior to the scheduled procedure and clear liquids ONLY (water, apple juice, Gatorade) for up to 6 hours prior to the appointment.
- The child’s parent or legal guardian must remain at the hospital or surgical site waiting room during the complete procedure.
After the appointment:
- Your child will be drowsy and will need to be monitored very closely. Keep your child away from areas of potential harm.
- If your child wants to sleep, place them on their side with their chin up. Wake your child every hour and encourage them to have something to drink in order to prevent dehydration. At first, it is best to give your child sips of clear liquids to prevent nausea. The first meal should be light and easily digestible.
- If your child vomits, help them bend over and turn their head to the side to ensure that they do not inhale the vomit.
- Prior to leaving the hospital/outpatient center, you will be given a detailed list of “Post-Op Instructions” and an emergency contact number if needed.
Pediatric Sedation Dentistry FAQs
Learn more about sedation with answers to these common questions:
What are the benefits of sedation dentistry for children?
Children often suffer from anxiety and fear surrounding dental appointments. Because of this, they often have tooth decay and other major dental problems. Sedation dentistry allows children to relax and not feel or remember the pain during their dentist appointments. The pediatric dentist can fix all their dental problems and your child will be less traumatized and comfortable during their treatments.
How do I prepare my child for sedation dentistry?
This will mostly depend on which type of sedation method you choose to use. We will supply you with specific instruction on what to do to prepare your child. This will include restrictions on eating and drinking before the procedure and how to take medications.
Is sedation dentistry safe for children?
Yes, sedation dentistry is very safe for children. The dental staff at Mt. Airy Children’s Dental Associates are qualified to administer sedation methods to children. They always follow all the proper protocols and guidelines. Our dentists will recommend the best type of sedation for your child based on their medical history, age, and the nature of their dental procedure.
How long does the sedation effect last?
The duration of the sedation effects will depend on the on type we use. Nitrous oxide will wear off as soon as the mask is removed. The effects of conscious sedation and general anesthesia will take longer to wear off. You should expect for the effects to last for a few hours after the appointment. During this time, someone will need to remain with your child and monitor them.
Will my child be conscious during the dental procedure?
With nitrous oxide and conscious sedation, they will be awake and responsive during the appointment. However, they will be in a deep state of relaxation and will remain completely calm. General anesthesia will put your child completely asleep.
Will my child need sedation for a tooth extraction?
Depending on the type of extraction, we will use a local anesthetic or sedation. We recommend anesthetic for simple tooth extractions or tooth removal for teeth above the gum line. Dental sedation is beneficial for complex extractions or surgical tooth removal treatments for teeth at or below the gum line. We may also recommend sedation if your child has dental anxiety.