Going to the dentist can be a stressful experience for some kids. Whether they’ve had a bad dental visit in the past or they’re sensitive to the sights and sounds of dentistry, dental anxiety is a very real struggle. At Happy Chompers Pediatric Dentistry, we completely understand and want to help your child make positive memories at the dentist’s office. That’s why we offer many sedation solutions that can help even the most nervous child completely relax. Do you think your child could benefit from sedation at their next appointment? Call our team before you arrive so that we’re prepared and able to make the necessary accommodations.
For more complex procedures or severe dental anxiety, oral conscious sedation is an effective option, particularly for older children who are able to take medication orally before their appointment begins. This method allows your child to easily remain calm during their procedure, and they will likely have little memory of the details afterward. Just keep in mind that the effects of oral conscious sedation can last for several hours, so your child should take it easy until they feel back to normal.
As the gentlest form of sedation, nitrous oxide is administered through a nasal mask, and its effects are practically instantaneous. Your child will feel content and relaxed, taking the edge off of their anxiety. The concentration of the nitrous oxide can be adapted according to their needs so they’ll always be comfortable and at ease throughout their entire appointment. Once we’re finished with treatment, the effects of nitrous oxide wear off just as quickly as they kick in, allowing your child to get back to their normal activities right away.
When oral conscious sedation isn’t a viable option, such as with children who struggle to take a pill orally, intravenous (IV) sedation offers a deeper relaxation than nitrous oxide. Our highly trained team can execute this advanced sedation method right here in our Katy office and can adjust how much is administered for the right level of sedation based on the individual patient’s needs. Although patients can fall asleep while on IV sedation, it doesn’t put them to sleep like general anesthesia.
For some children, the best way to approach their dental care is to put them in an unconscious state. That’s where general anesthesia comes in. This method can be administered via a breathing mask or injection or even both. In general anesthesia, your child will feel and remember nothing from the procedure because it makes them fall and stay asleep. In some cases, our knowledgeable team can handle this method here in our practice. Throughout the procedure, we will monitor their vitals to make sure that they stay safe.
In more extreme, severe, or high-risk cases, such as with patients with special needs, we may need to call in extra medical support to administer and monitor your child’s anesthesia. At a hospital, we can have highly trained staff on hand who can step in should complications come up during the procedure. Through these additional measures, we can ensure your child’s safety while we perform the dental work they need. Dr. A is on staff at Texas Children’s Hospital and West Houston Medical Center, and has been closely working with their exceptional and experienced pediatric anesthesiologists.