Sedation Dentistry

Imagine your child undergoing a complex dental treatment like a root canal, extraction, or oral surgery. When treatment is complete, your son or daughter will have no recollection of the time it took, the pain, the noise, or the discomfort.

We are pleased to offer your little one 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 is sedation dentistry?

Sedation dentistry enables us to provide a variety of dental treatments safely and comfortably for children who experience anxiety when visiting 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

Levels of Sedation

Sedation dentistry is closely regulated by law. There are three sedative states at which we may administer treatment: mild sedation, moderate sedation, and deep sedation.

• 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.
• Moderate Sedation — Used for patients with moderate dental anxiety and those who need longer or more complex procedures, conscious sedation often refers to the use of light IV sedation. With conscious sedation, your son or daughter will remain awake throughout the procedure, but will be in a deep state of relaxation.
• Deep Sedation — Patients who receive deep sedation go between consciousness and unconsciousness during their dental procedure. They often have no recollection of the treatment and are unable to respond to commands even if they are awake at times during the procedure.

How are sedatives administered?

• Inhalation — Nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, is the most frequently used method for easing mild-to-moderate anxiety. Recovery is quick so your youngster 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 child will be given a prescription pill which, taken about an hour before the appointment, will have him or her fully relaxed by the time you arrive at our office.

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 youngster.