Unfortunately, not all children have positive memories of the dentist. Some children may be more sensitive or find it difficult to sit still during treatment. But there are solutions from our Edmonds office that can make receiving dental care more comfortable for them. Nitrous oxide, oral sedation, and general anesthesia are effective ways to give your child the dental care they need without the discomfort or anxiety that may come with their cleanings or restorative care. There’s no reason that dental treatment should be painful. And all it takes for your child to get started with sedation dentistry is a simple conversation with Dr. Christie.
Nitrous oxide (laughing gas) is a great option if your child is nervous at the dentist or if your child has trouble sitting still for their exams and cleanings. The dentist will use a mixture of nitrous oxide (laughing gas) and oxygen through a nose mask, and your child will breathe through this mask.
As they breathe in the gas, they’ll begin to feel less nervous, and may experience a “floaty” or “dreamy” feeling. Children don’t fall asleep with laughing gas, but they’ll be very calm throughout their procedure.
A few of the best benefits of this method is that side effects are minimal, and the effects of the nitrous oxide wear off within prior to the nose mask being removed. Your child can go back to school or to their daily activities in Edmonds, Woodway, Shoreline or surrounding communities after their appointment.
Oral conscious sedation uses a liquid sedative that your child will take before their appointment. Once the sedative takes effect, they’ll begin to feel groggy and tired. In some cases, your child may end up falling asleep during their treatment, and/or may forget much of their procedure at our Edmonds practice.
Side effects can include grogginess for a few hours after the appointment, so you will need to plan the rest of your day accordingly.
General anesthesia is typically used only for the most invasive dental surgeries, or for children with severe dental anxiety. This is because it requires the use of a ventilator to help patients breathe, and it will render your child completely unconscious — they will not feel anything or remember anything about the procedure.
For your peace of mind, we bring in a certified anesthesiologist for every procedure that requires anesthesia, to ensure your child stays safe and comfortable during their visit.
Sedation is most often used to treat dental anxiety and keep children at ease during their treatment. Fear of the dentist is very common, and sedation can keep your child calm during their appointments.
Additionally, sedation helps with pain and discomfort during more invasive procedures, such as tooth extractions. It also helps young patients feel more comfortable if they need to sit still for longer treatment times at our Edmonds office.
As long as your child is healthy and is not taking any medications that may interfere with the sedation, your child should be a good candidate for sedation dentistry. If you live in Edmonds, Shoreline or Woodway, contact us to learn more about our pediatric sedation options today.
With nitrous oxide (laughing gas), your child will feel light-headed, giggly, and relaxed, but will be fully conscious and aware of their surroundings. They will also feel less discomfort during treatment.
Oral conscious sedation usually makes patient’s feel groggy or sleepy. Your child may fall asleep, and probably won’t remember much about the procedure. However, they will not be unconscious, and can still be woken and respond to commands.
General anesthesia is the deepest level of sedation. Your child will be completely sleeping and will not feel anything or remember anything from the procedure.
When done correctly, sedation dentistry for children, even toddlers, is completely safe. Several precautions are taken to ensure a seamless experience. First, we’ll take a detailed health history to make sure we recommend the right sedation option. We’ll then discuss options with the parent or guardian so that you understand the effects and are prepared to care for your child after their procedure. All methods of sedation dentistry are provided by professionals at our office so you can rest assured that your child’s well-being is of the utmost importance.
