Sedation Dentistry
Your child will be in gentle hands as both of our doctors are committed to providing safe and effective sedation options for our pediatric patients. We use all of the appropriate equipment to monitor vital signs, and maintain the necessary emergency equipment and medicine to safely perform each case.
Our goal is to help minimize or even eliminate the emotional trauma and stress that can be associated with dental treatment for pediatric patients. We speak to parents every day that describe their traumatic experiences in the dental office when they were children, and how they remember it vividly to this day as adults. There is no reason to emotionally scar a child for the rest of their life, and cause them to dread and fear the dentist. We will treat your children with the utmost compassion and empathy, and do everything we can to make their visits with us as pleasant and non-threatening as possible.
We offer three different types of sedation: Nitrous Oxide (also known as Laughing Gas), Oral Conscious Sedation and General Anesthesia. These three options are described below.
"Nitrous Oxide"
Nitrous oxide, more commonly known as laughing gas, is one of the safest and most predictable sedative agents available in dentistry, and has been used safely for decades. The gas is odorless but we offer several choices of “flavors” or scents for our patients to choose from. It is administered with a mixture of oxygen, and helps relax and calm our patients within a few minutes. Because it is a mild sedative, patients are awake and can still communicate with us during treatment. After treatment, the nitrous oxide is turned off and oxygen is administered for five to 10 minutes to help flush any remaining gas from the body, and the effects wear off almost immediately. Nitrous oxide rarely has side effects, although some patients may experience minor nausea or dizziness, which can quickly be reversed with oxygen if necessary. It is best not to eat heavily immediately before breathing nitrous oxide as this can sometimes lead to a greater chance of nausea during or after treatment. Afterwards, it is also a good idea to limit any activities that require one’s full coordination such as sports, bike riding, or swimming. An extra bit of caution will help prevent any unnecessary injuries, but most patients are completely back to normal soon after they leave our office.
“Oral Conscious Sedation”
The second sedation option that we offer in our office is Oral Conscious Sedation. This involves the use of one or two liquid sedatives, which are given to the child 30 minutes to an hour prior to starting treatment. It is very important that your child does not eat or drink within four hours of their sedation appointment to prevent risk of nausea or vomiting. Also, they must be healthy at the day of the sedation. Any fevers or illness requires us to reschedule their appointment for safety reasons. The dose is based upon a child’s body weight, age, procedure planned, and length of treatment time needed. The medicine is mixed and given in the office, and your child can watch a movie or play quietly while we wait for the medicine to take effect. This is extremely helpful in calming an anxious child that may have more extensive treatment needs. We are able to alleviate anxiety and pain during longer appointments, and we’re also able to complete more treatment in a shorter time. Most children are drowsy and may fall into a light sleep, but they can be awakened easily with gentle stimulation. But normally the child will be awake and cooperative, and able to follow instructions appropriately. There are several important criteria for selecting children as candidates for oral conscious sedation and we will be happy to discuss these as they relate specifically to your child. We will monitor your child very carefully and thoroughly during their sedation appointment to ensure their safety and comfort.
“General Anesthesia”
Some children are not able to have dental treatment performed in a routine office setting due to a variety of reasons. Some examples are very young children that have sustained a severe injury or have baby bottle tooth decay. Another example would be children who are mentally or physically disabled such as children with Autism or Cerebral Palsy. In some of these situations, oral conscious sedation is not feasible or possible, or has been attempted but was not successful in managing a child’s behavior. When no other options are possible, dental treatment can be performed under general anesthesia at an outpatient surgical center such as Dell Children’s Hospital or North Austin Medical Center. We will work with a board-certified Anesthesiologist who will put your child to sleep. Our doctors are not involved in the anesthesia component but work in conjunction with the anesthesiologist to ensure your child’s safety. There are typically no “shots” or no pain involved prior to going to sleep. A child will simply breathe the “sleepy air” and fall asleep within 20 to 30 seconds. After going to sleep, we can take care of all of your child’s dental treatment and they will not feel anything whatsoever. They will wake up in the recovery room and typically can go home two or three hours after surgery.
