What Should Your Kids Expect From Sedation?

Posted October 5, 2022

Dental sedation is a way to help a patient feel calm and comfortable during dental treatment, and could be helpful for children. In fact, we often use this to ensure kids undergoing oral surgery or who have anxiety feel relaxed during care. In today’s blog, your Dallas, TX, pediatric dentist talks about kids’ sedation.

When Kids Need a Calming Solution

As we touched on above, we often prescribed this for children undergoing more extensive treatments, such as a tooth extraction or a pulpotomy. In addition, this could help children with special needs or high levels of anxiety undergo treatment comfortably and without complication. We want to ensure every child feels calm and relaxed during treatment. Not only do they learn they shouldn’t fear the dentist, but they’ll be more likely to continue seeing the dentist as adults. In addition to calming agents like sedation, our team knows how to speak with children and help them feel at ease.

Our Expertise

We have professional anesthesiologists on our team, who are both members of the Pediatric Dental Anesthesia Associates, and board-certified specialists too. If we will be employing any form of sedation, they will be on hand to monitor your child and control the levels being used.

3 Forms of Sedation

We have three different options we offer our young patients. The most common is known as nitrous oxide, and is administered through a mask over the nose. Children inhale a special gas and enter a calm state. With this option, the effects wear off as soon as the procedure ends. Your little ones could even return to school afterward!

The next level is oral sedation, which offers a more substantial level of calm. Administered through a pill or liquid before the procedure, this offers a deep calm. We may suggest kids avoid food and drink for the eight hours before the procured. The effects will take a little time to wear off, so your child likely won’t return to school afterward.

The deepest level of calm is IV, and sends them into a much deeper state of relaxation, often with little to no memory of the procedure afterward. Again, they will likely be a little groggy and won’t be able to return to school.

If you have any questions about how we help little ones stay calm and relaxed, then contract our team today. We want to help your children enjoy their time in the office, and leave with better smiles!

Your Dallas, TX, Dentist Offers Calming Options for Children

Our team wants to help kids enjoy each visit to our office. If you have any questions about ensuring your little one is comfortable and relaxed, then contact your Dallas, TX pediatric dentist, Dr. Marr, by calling (214) 321-4880.