Many children have a hard time sitting still, which can make dental care difficult. Others may be fearful or anxious about visiting the dentist. However, with sedation options, we can ensure your child stays comfortable and relaxed during their visit, so every trip to your Costa Mesa pediatric dentist is a positive experience.
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Why Should I Choose Pediatric Sedation?
Sedation is really useful for kids. Just like adults, children are often nervous about dental procedures like fillings, or even oral exams and teeth cleanings. Sedation keeps your child calm and comfortable. It also makes it easier for your dentist to treat them, particularly if your little one is active and tends to move around a lot. Keeping them still and comfortable lets their pediatric dentist focus on the procedure and provide better overall care.
Did you know…
Nitrous oxide, or “laughing gas” was first used in dental sedation way back in 1844. Today, it’s still the most common sedation method for kids.
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Laughing Gas for Little Smiles
The most mild form of sedation, nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas or minimally inhaled sedation, is a safe way to ensure your child stays relaxed during their treatment.
Oral Conscious Sedation Options
Oral conscious sedation is taken in liquid form, and can be administered 30 minutes before your child’s treatment. It’s a great option for kiddos with more severe dental anxiety, or those undergoing more complex procedures.
General Anesthesia for Severe Anxiety
General anesthesia is usually reserved for only the most invasive dental surgeries, as it requires the use of a ventilator to help patients breathe. The primary benefit of general anesthesia is that it will render your child completely unconscious, they will not feel anything or remember anything about their treatment.
Board-Certified Pediatric Dentist
A pediatric dentist completes an additional 2 year graduate program in pediatric dentistry after dental school. To become board certified, they also complete an official certification process through the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. This process involves both a written and oral exam. Once a doctor is board certified, they renew their certification annually to maintain their status.
Complimentary Meet & Greets
Overcoming the fear of going to the dentist can be a challenge. That’s why we encourage parents to bring their little ones for a tour of the office and to meet the team. Their dentist will “count their teeth” and show them how cool going to the dentist can be, so they can get excited about their oral health!
The Benefits of Pediatric Sedation
Manage Fear & Dental Anxiety
Seeing the dentist can be scary for kids of all ages, particularly for procedures like fillings. With sedation, your little one can sit back, relax, and feel more comfortable throughout their entire appointment with their pediatric dentist.
Eliminate Pain & Discomfort
Along with local numbing, sedation is extremely effective at controlling any potential pain and discomfort that your little one may experience during their treatment. This makes their treatment easier and gives you peace of mind.
Mitigate Gag Reflex, Fear Of Needles
Some types of sedation can help reduce the gag reflex, which is really useful if your child needs work to be done on their rear teeth and has a sensitive gag reflex. It can also help with fear of numbing needles, which is common in both kids and adults.
The Pediatric Sedation Treatment Process
Consultation & Review of Treatment
Your child’s dentist will review their treatment plan to determine if sedation is a good option for their procedure. Sometimes sedation may be recommended, or necessary, for more invasive or lengthy dental procedures. There are also options that are better for relieving tension and anxiety so your child can remain comfortable during treatment.
Health Evaluation
The dentist will then discuss with you your child’s health history and current overall health to determine if sedation is appropriate for them. Certain health issues may affect how your child responds to sedation, so it’s important to have a comprehensive view of their physical health before we agree upon sedation.
Recommendations & Options
With the information your child’s dentist has collected, they will lay out all available sedation options and discuss with you each one’s effects and instructions. With their recommendation and your input, we can help you choose the right option for your child and their procedure.
Before & Afters
A smile is worth 1,000 words.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is sedation dentistry right for my child?
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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. Contact us to learn more about sedation options for your child. We can discuss any concerns you may have during a consultation.
Is sedation dentistry safe for toddlers?
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.
What does sedation dentistry feel like for my child?
This depends on the method of sedation:
With laughing gas, your child will feel they are floating, giggly, and relaxed, but will be fully conscious and aware of their surroundings. They will also feel less discomfort during treatment.
Oral conscious sedation will usually make some patients feel sleepy and feel a little bit more relaxed than laughing gas alone. Your child is fully conscious and aware of their surroundings. In some cases, some kids may take a nap, they can be easily woken up and can still follow purposeful commands. They will also feel less discomfort during treatment.
General anesthesia is the deepest level of sedation. Your child will be completely unconscious and will not feel anything or remember anything from the procedure. When using general anesthesia, your pediatric dentist will be working with a pediatric anesthesiologist during the procedure to ensure your child’s comfort and safety.
Why is sedation used in dentistry?
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 feeling calm and safe 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.
