Sedation Dentistry

Preparing for Sedation Dentistry

It is very important to make sure your child is in good overall health prior to the sedation to optimize treatment. Dr. Pham and her team will review all these instructions to keep your child safe throughout treatment.

Oral Sedation

Another alternative for helping nervous children relax at the dentist’s office is the use of sedation. When your child becomes so anxious that cooperating becomes difficult for them, sedation is an option. Sedation is a method in which medications are used to help your child relax during the dental visit and allow the doctor to effectively treat your child. Sedations tend to produce feelings of drowsiness and relaxation and are not meant to make your child unconscious.

Sedation is also a way to for the dentist to provide more effective treatment along with preventing that may result from uncontrolled movements in an anxious, uncooperative child.

When administered according to the sedation guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry by a pediatric dentist, sedation is a safe, effective option. If you are interested in learning more about the use of sedation during your child’s visits please contact our office to answer any of your questions.

Nitrous Gas

Most children feel comfortable when visiting the dentist. Early exposure to the dentist helps younger patients to associate the dental office with feeling of relaxation. Some children however, may feel nervous before their visit or while sitting in the dental chair. Sometimes they need more than gentle care to feel relaxed. Nitrous gas is a safe sedative used to help your child relax during the dental visit while allowing the doctor to effectively treat your child.

Nitrous gas is a blend of oxygen and nitrous oxide. Before the procedure a fitted mask is placed over your child’s nose and as they breathe, the blend is absorbed through the lungs. At the end of the treatment, the nitrous gas is removed and has no lingering effects. One of the side effects during treatment is a sense of contentment and relaxation one of the reasons why nitrous gas is also known as “laughing gas.”

The use of nitrous gas is very safe as it is rapidly absorbed, is reversible, and can be adjusted in concentration. It is recommended for patients that are old enough to understand that their cooperation is required for a successful outcome.

Your child is fully conscious and keeps all of their natural reflexes while absorbing the nitrous gas. If you are interested in learning more about the use of nitrous gas during your child’s visits, or in other alternatives, please contact our office to answer any of your questions.