What is Sedation Dentistry?

Where Smiles Grow offers comprehensive dental services for children with complicated procedures, special needs, or high anxiety. Sedation dentistry can provide a safe, anxiety-free experience for certain children who need dental treatment.

Sedation dentistry uses medication to help children cope with fear and anxiety associated with dental treatment. It attempts to enable a child to undergo treatment or allows a dentist to perform a procedure as safe and efficiently as possible without having long-term negative effects on a child’s dental experience.

If your child needs a complicated procedure, such as a tooth extraction, crown or multiple fillings, sedation can allow for safe and effective care in a comfortable, stress-free environment. Our pediatric dentists will discuss all options with you and help you decide what is best for your child.

Our practice uses a range of sedation options including nitrous oxide, oral conscious sedation and general anesthesia in a hospital setting. We do not give heavy doses of sedatives. We want your child to be comfortable, but not deeply sedated. Our goal is that your child will be relaxed enough to get through the procedure with little or no additional fear/anxiety at future visits.

Who Should Be Sedated?

Children who have a level of anxiety that prevents good coping skills. This includes younger children and those who are unable to cooperate during the delivery of dental care or have an extensive treatment plan that may overwhelm a child’s existing coping skills.

Is Dental Sedation Safe for Kids?

We understand that safety is the most important consideration for parents when it comes to dental sedation. At Where Smiles Grow, safety is always our top priority too. Each of our doctors has undergone advanced training in medical emergencies as well as is Pediatric Advanced Life support (PALS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certified. Our pediatric dentists have years of experience in safely using various sedation methods with our young patients. We provide sedation to allow our patients to comfortably sit for treatment so we can conduct our procedures in a safe, efficient manner.

Before sedation is administered, we will review your child’s medical history, reviewing the list of any medications that your child is currently taking as well as any other relevant medical information. We provide you with pre-and post-op instructions that tell you how to prepare for your child’s procedure and how to care for them after the sedation has worn off.

After your appointment, your child may be groggy, although many patients do not experience any negative reactions after sedation. We’ll let you know what signs to look out for and what to do if complications arise. If you have any questions or concerns, please give our office a call.

Any Questions?

Our pediatric dentists are always happy to answer any questions you may have about your child’s upcoming procedure. If you would like more information about sedation dentistry or any other aspect of your child’s treatment, give us a call at (518) 785-3911. You can make an appointment by calling our office or filling out our online contact form.