Sedation Dentistry
Sedation dentistry can be a great benefit to children and teenagers who would otherwise be anxious and fearful during dental treatment.
One of the most commonly used types of sedation is nitrous oxide, which is also known as laughing gas. This helps many children relax during their procedure. Another type of sedation is Oral Sedation. Oral sedation is a popular option for many patients. Oral sedatives are either swallowed in pill or liquid form. Oral sedatives have long safety records after decades of use, and several even have amnesic properties meaning your child may remember little to nothing during treatment even though they are conscious throughout treatment. Finally we offer General Anesthesia also. Some children, because of their need for extensive treatment, anxiety, uncooperative age-appropriate behavior, disabilities, or medical conditions, benefit from dental treatment while under general anesthesia. Our dentists provide this treatment at Prisma Health Children’s Hospital in a day surgery setting.
- Oral Conscious Sedation
- Nitrous Oxide
- Hospital/General Anesthesia
Oral Conscious Sedation
With oral conscious sedation, your anxiety will decrease and you’ll feel comfortable during your dental treatment. Rest assured, you will stay conscious throughout the procedure. With this type of sedation, we provide medication that relaxes your body and mind. If you undergo this type of sedation procedure, we ask that you have someone else drive you on the day of your treatment. Nonetheless, the effects of the sedation do not linger, so you will feel alert and back to your normal state again soon after treatment.
Nitrous Oxide
Nitrous oxide is a very safe form of sedation. It is inhaled and the effects start within a few seconds. It can be adjusted quickly if a patient is too light or too deep. Also, after a few minutes without the gas, it is safe to drive home. It has very little side effects and hardly any effects on the kidneys, liver, brain, and more.
Nitrous oxide makes many people feel happy and warm. It causes a lot of people to laugh so it is often called laughing gas. It is great for sedation when a person is nervous at the dentist. It is also a great pain relief.
Not many dentists use nitrous oxide analgesia anymore. We would be glad to use it if you are extremely nervous or you need some pain relief during your procedure. Our goal is to keep you as relaxed as possible, no matter what procedure that we are performing.