At Sasco Pediatric Dentistry, Dr. Michelle Neves specializes in sedation dentistry for nervous kiddos. Treatments like dental fillings can be scary and intimidating for even the bravest children.
But is dental sedation safe for your child? What can you expect from the process? How long does it last? In this blog, we’ll answer all of these questions and more. Read on, and learn what you can expect when your little one is sedated at our Fairfield, CT pediatric dental office.
Absolutely. The medicines used for dental sedation have been used for decades, and are totally safe when used properly and administered by an experienced dentist like Dr. Michelle. Complications of any kind are extremely rare, and serious complications are nearly unheard of.
To ensure the safety of your child, Dr. Michelle will also need to discuss their medical history, medications they're taking, and other information with you. During their appointment, our team will also keep a close eye on your little one’s vital signs to make sure everything looks good.
Laughing gas is the best option for most kids. In this treatment, Dr. Michelle will put a comfortable mask over your child’s nose. Then, they’ll breathe in as directed, and Dr. Michelle will send a stream of oxygen and nitrous oxide (laughing gas) into their lungs. Laughing gas will make your child feel calm, giggly, and “floaty.” They’ll feel a bit disconnected from what’s happening around them, but will remain fully conscious and able to respond to commands.
Oral conscious sedation uses a pill or liquid sedative and produces a deeper level of sedation compared to laughing gas. With this type of sedation, your child may feel groggy, fall asleep, and even forget most or all of their appointment. If your child is very nervous about visiting the dentist or is getting a more complex treatment, oral conscious sedation is a good choice.
IV sedation is also an option in some cases. This uses the same sedatives as oral conscious sedation, but the medication is delivered directly into your child’s bloodstream. With IV sedation, your child will sleep through their entire appointment.
Laughing gas sedation usually wears off about five minutes after your child’s appointment is over. They may experience some lingering side effects like confusion and grogginess, but these usually go away pretty fast, too.
Oral conscious and IV sedation have longer-lasting effects. It may take up to 4-6 hours for your child’s sedation to wear off fully, so it’s best to head home and take things easy. Your child may feel sleepy and groggy for a while, and may also feel nauseous.
If your child is getting nitrous oxide (laughing gas) sedation, they do not have to fast and avoid eating. However, we do recommend that they eat their last meal at least two hours before their appointment, since this reduces the risk of nausea.
For oral conscious sedation and IV sedation, your child must not eat for at least six hours before their appointment. They must also stop drinking water two hours before their appointment. This ensures that they can be sedated safely at our office.
If you think that your child could benefit from pediatric dental sedation in Fairfield, CT, we’re here to help. At Sasco Pediatric Dentistry, Dr. Michelle’s goal is to provide expert care for every kid in a comfortable and welcoming environment. Sedation is a valuable tool that can help your little one get dental care with less stress and anxiety.
So don’t wait. Get in touch online or give us a call at (203) 307-2430 to schedule a consultation at our office today, and get answers to any other questions you may have about our approach to pediatric dental sedation.
We know that life can be busy, especially when it comes to taking care of little ones. If you’re looking for a quality dental home for your child in Fairfield, but don’t have time to call, just fill out the form below, and we’ll get back to you! Get in touch with us today to experience the future of pediatric dentistry.
