Pediatric Sedation Dentistry in Burke

What are the benefits of sedation dentistry for children undergoing complex dental treatments, and in what situations might it be recommended?

Imagine your child undergoing a complex dental treatment like a root canal, extraction, or oral surgery. When treatment is complete, he or she will have no recollection of the time it took, the pain, the noise, or the discomfort. We are pleased to offer children the option of comfortable, safe, and effective sedation dentistry. Our pediatric dental patients who benefit from sedation dentistry have:

• Fear or anxiety of being at the dentist
• Difficulty sitting still for long periods of time
• A hard time getting (and staying) numb from anesthetics

What are the advantages of sedation dentistry for children who experience anxiety during dental visits?

Sedation dentistry enables a pediatric dentist to provide a variety of dental treatments safely and comfortably for children who experience anxiety when they visit 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

What is mild sedation in pediatric dentistry, and how does it help children with mild anxiety or during longer procedures?

• Mild Sedation — Anxiolysis is the lightest form of sedation dentistry, and is often used for children with mild anxiety, longer procedures, or more complex situations. Mild 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. Patients typically recover from anxiolysis sedation within a few hours after the procedure is complete. Nitrous oxide inhalation (laughing gas) is another form of mild to moderate sedation that results in relaxation during treatment.

How are sedatives administered to children?

• Inhalation — Nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, is the most frequently used method for easing mild to moderate anxiety. Recovery is quick so your son or daughter 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 needles. Your youngster will be given an oral sedative to help relax for the appointment.

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.