Nitrous Oxide
Often called “laughing gas,” nitrous oxide is a safe, mild sedative that will assist in relieving your child’s anxiety during short dental procedures. This type of treatment is recommended for children with a mild level of dental anxiety. This medication is given with the use of a nasal hood or “bubble gum nose” which carries air (oxygen) mixed with the medication. Your child will be asked to breathe through the nose and sense a faint, sweet smell. The sedation will take effect in about 5 minutes. The mask will remain in place until the procedure is done. Your child will be awake during the entire procedure and may have a “happy” feeling, feel tingling in their fingers or toes, or have the sensation of floating. When the procedure is complete, the nitrous oxide will be turned off and your child will breathe in pure oxygen for about 5 minutes to clear out any remaining gas. Your child will walk out of our office at their baseline without any remaining laughing gas in their system. In order to enhance the effect of the medication, you should limit your child to a light meal before this procedure. Overall, this type of treatment lowers the chance of injury and provides a more enjoyable environment for the patient.
Sedation Dentistry
IV sedation
This is a pharmacologically-induced “sleep” state. This type of treatment is recommended for children with moderate to severe dental anxiety needing more extensive treatment. The aim of a general anesthetic is to create a lack of sensation and to ensure no memory of the procedure and no pain. We work in association with dental and/or medical anesthesiologists to provide this type of treatment in our office. This type of treatment requires home preparation prior to the appointment. You will receive a call from our office and the anesthesiologist prior to the scheduled procedure for specific recommendations for your child
