Sedation Dentistry

Sometimes a child comes to us that has had a negative dental experience or they are too young to understand the dental treatment needed. We offer different sedation options to help them relax and make their dental appointment more comfortable for everyone, patient and parent alike.

For most patients, nitrous oxide (laughing gas) is plenty to help your child relax. Nitrous oxide is very safe. It is mixed with oxygen and delivered with a small mask worn over your child’s nose. Your child is awake, responsive, and breathes without assistance. When treatment is finished, the mask is removed, and within a few breaths of air, the nitrous oxide has left your child’s system.

If your child is older or suffers from severe anxiety, oral sedation (a pill or liquid medicine), IV sedation, or general anesthesia in a hospital setting under the care of a board-certified anesthesiologist may be recommended. Dr. Powell and Dr. Sheh will be able to discuss these options with you to help your child get the care they need.

Our Sedation Dentistry Services

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recognizes dental sedation as a very safe and effective technique to help relax your child during treatment.

Slightly more involved procedures in certain children will require the use of an oral medication along with nitrous oxide to help relax your child and facilitate cooperation with the procedure. These procedures are scheduled carefully and we require your child to be fasting  the morning of the procedure, and also be free of any respiratory symptoms in the two weeks before the procedure. Often we ask that both parents or  be present so that one is able to sit in the back seat with your child on the drive home. Most patients walk out of their appointments that day and are back in school the following day for minimal time away from school.

For more complex or lengthy dental procedures, or for children with dental fears or special needs, IV sedation dentistry may be the best choice. Usually we are able to complete all of the necessary treatment in one appointment. Our on-staff pediatric anesthesiologist (MD) will administer and monitor your child’s sedation during the entire procedure to ensure the utmost safety for your child. Our patients typically don’t remember the procedures and usually walk out of our office afterwards! This is yet another safe, but highly effective way we can provide necessary pediatric dental care to our patients.