Sedation dentistry is simply the use of medication during an oral surgery or other dental procedure to help a patient feel as comfortable as possible. It has sometimes been referred to as “sleep dentistry”, but that is not really true as patients are usually awake during the procedures except for those under general anesthesia. The sedation is most suitable for individuals with real fear or anxiety of visiting a dentist or sitting on a dental surgery chair, particularly children.
There are various ways in which sedation dentistry is administered including:
Inhaled minimal sedation– Here the dentist administers to you nitrous oxide (laughing gas) combined with oxygen through a gas mask that is placed over your nose.
Oral sedation– This can be used for minimal to moderate sedation. For minimal sedation, a pill (typically Halcion), is administered about half an hour before the procedure.
IV sedation– Here the sedative drug is given through a vein, enabling it to work more quickly and for the dentist to continually adjust the level of sedation.
Sedation for dental procedures on kids is safe if done right. Nitrous oxide, which is administered through inhalation, tends to be the safest for kids and almost all dentists can administer it. It helps the kid remain calm throughout the procedure. Oral sedation also works for children, but there is only a small percentage of pediatric dentists who are trained on how to administer it. A pediatric dentist has to know how to ensure that the administered dosage is right for the child’s age and weight.
For some children your dentist may use a sedative, which can induce minimal sedation and help the child to relax for the treatment. Some sedatives, such as nitrous oxide, can be administered before or during dental procedures. Nitrous Oxide is a safe and effective sedative agent that is mixed with oxygen and inhaled through a small mask that fits over the nose to help the patient relax. Nitrous Oxide, sometimes called “laughing gas” is one option your dentist may offer to make the patient less anxious during treatment. Some complications with Nitrous Oxide may but are limited to include nausea.
Moderate Sedation is recommended for apprehensive children, very young children, and children with special needs. Moderate sedation is a safe method in which a liquid is given to the patient to drink. The patient will still be awake for treatment but moderately sedated so that they can be comfortable and cooperative for treatment. Treatment can be completed in two appointments or less. Your child may be given a mixture of different medications along with Nitrous Oxide and local anesthesia.
To Download our Pre-Anesthesia Instruction Sheet click here.
Because each child’s metabolism is different and there is no 100% guarantee with any sedative medication, there is the possibly your child’s sedation will need to be aborted before treatment has started or prior to treatment being completed.
Your child will be drowsy and will need to be monitored very closely. Keep your child away from areas of potential harm.
If your child wants to sleep, place them on their side with their chin up. Wake your child every hour and encourage them to have something to drink in order to prevent dehydration. At first it is best to give your child sips of clear liquids to prevent nausea. The first meal should be light and easily digestible.
If your child vomits, help them bend over and turn their head to the side to insure that they do not inhale the vomit.
Because we use local anesthetic to numb your child’s mouth during the procedure, your child may have the tendency to bite or chew their lips, cheeks, and/or tongue and/or rub and scratch their face after treatment. Please observe your child carefully to prevent any injury to these areas.
We may use different medications to sedate your child that we planned, but we anticipate that one of the following will be best for your child. These maybe used in addition to nitrous oxide and local anesthesia.
If you have any further questions, do not hesitate to call the office at 540-785-4494
General anesthesia is commonly used to facilitate dental treatment in patients with anxiety or challenging behavior, many of whom are children or patients with special needs. When performing procedures under general anesthesia, dental surgeons must perform a thorough pre-operative assessment as well as ensure that the patients are aware of the potential risks and that informed consent has been obtained. In rare cases, for extremely anxious individuals who are unable to cooperate when sedated, general anesthesia may be the most sensible form of treatment used for patient’s when two or more quadrants of the mouth require restorative care. With general anesthesia, all treatment can be done in one appointment which helps to lessen the patient anxiety and decrease the patients fearfulness for future dental procedures.
To Download our Pre-Anesthesia Instruction Sheet click here.
Clear Fluids Include: Water & Apple Juice are the only acceptable clear fluids allowed by anesthesiologist
Pre-Operative instructions for in-office General Anesthesia are as follows:
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the anesthesia or the above guidelines, please contact our Pediatric Dental Coordinator, or one of the other front desk staff members at ClearCare.
Your child will be drowsy and will need to be monitored very closely. Keep your child away from areas of potential harm.
If your child wants to sleep, place them on their side with their chin up. Wake your child every hour and encourage them to have something to drink in order to prevent dehydration. At first it is best to give your child sips of clear liquids to prevent nausea. The first meal should be light and easily digestible.
If your child vomits, help them bend over and turn their head to the side to insure that they do not inhale the vomit.
Because we use local anesthetic to numb your child’s mouth during the procedure, your child may have the tendency to bite or chew their lips, cheeks, and/or tongue and/or rub and scratch their face after treatment. Please observe your child carefully to prevent any injury to these areas.
If you have any further questions, do not hesitate to call the office at 540-785-4494
To learn more about sedation click here.
10 Chatham Heights Rd
Fredericksburg, VA 22405
PH: 540-785-4494
Fax: 540-785-2216
Email: infofbg@letssmile.com
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