Laughing gas is safe, effective, and has been used in dentistry since the late 19th century.
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. But there are options that are better for relieving tension and anxiety so your child can remain comfortable during treatment.
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.
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 from our pediatric dentistry in Tinton Falls.
IV sedation uses medications delivered directly into the bloodstream via an IV. This means your child will be sedated more deeply and the sedation will take effect almost immediately after it’s introduced to the bloodstream.
It’s very common to fall asleep during treatment with IV sedation. Although your child will likely forget much, if not all, of their procedure, they can still be woken up and respond to commands.
Like oral conscious sedation, sleepiness or grogginess will occur for 4-6 hours or longer after their treatment. So you will need to plan the rest of your day accordingly.
General anesthesia is typically used only for children who have extensive dental needs and are unable to complete these treatments in the office due to extreme dental anxiety. All treatment is completed in the hospital, whereby an anesthesiologist uses a tube to control your child's breathing and monitors them throughout the procedure. During the dental procedure, the child is asleep and does not remember anything.
If you and your child's dentist determine that general anesthesia is the right type of sedation for you child, the dentist will work in conjunction with your child's pediatrician to ensure your child is safe and well cared for.
Sedation options keep restless children calm while receiving dental treatment.
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 help your child have the best experience so as to alleviate those fears in the future.
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.
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 at our Tinton Falls dental office. We can discuss any concerns you may have during a consultation.
This depends on the method of sedation. With laughing gas, your child will feel light-headed, giggly, and relaxed, but will be fully conscious and aware of their surroundings. They will also feel less discomfort during treatment.
Oral conscious sedation and IV sedation will usually make patients feel groggy or sleepy. Your child will likely fall asleep, and probably won’t remember much about the procedure. However, they will not be unconscious, and can still be woken and respond to commands.
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.
If sedation is recommended for your child, everything possible will be done to minimize the risk to your child. First, a detailed health history is taken to make sure the right sedation option is recommended. The options are then discussed with the parent or guardian so that you understand the effects and are prepared to care for you child after their procedure. Your child's well-being is of the utmost importance when making a decision about sedation.
16% of school age children have a fear of the dentist.
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