Sedation Dentistry uses medication to help your child relax for a better dental care experience. Sedation dentistry can even help children with severe dental anxiety.

Sedation dentistry offers many benefits to meet your child’s individual needs such as reducing the sensation of passing time. This can be very useful if your child needs complex or multiple treatments in a single sitting.

In every case, your child’s treatment is closely monitored by our experienced pediatric dental team, who will ensure your child’s safety and comfort.

Nitrous Oxide 

Nitrous Oxide, commonly known as laughing gas, is a mild dental sedation medication. Once inhaled, it induces a state of mild relaxation. It also reduces sensitivity to pain. Nitrous Oxide is safe for virtually every patient, regardless of age. Following treatment, oxygen is used to neutralize the effects of nitrous oxide. Once this is complete, your child will be fully alert.

Anxiolysis

Anxiolysis provides more relaxation for your child while keeping them awake. This will be a small pill or dose of liquid medication to help your child relax. Though your child is still able to stand, walk, or answer questions, they will remain in a calm state throughout the treatment. Many parents have found that their child has little fuzzy memories of the procedure after the fact. For patients with dental anxiety, this can be a great benefit.

General Anesthesia

With general anesthesia, your child will be unconscious and unable to respond during dental procedures. In this unconscious state, your child will not feel any pain and there is a complete absence of any anxiety or fear, which is why many parents ask about using general anesthesia. The effects typically wear off after a few hours.

 Your child’s safety is our top priority. At their appointment, be sure to tell us:

• Any prescription medications or over-the-counter medications they are taking
• Any herbal or nutritional supplements they are using
• Any allergies they have, particularly medication reactions
• Any health conditions they have
• Any questions or concerns you may have about your child’s treatment or about sedation dentistry

For more information about using sedation dentistry for your child’s next treatment, contact Sunny Day Pediatric Dentistry.