Sedation Dentistry
Some patients, because of their need for extensive treatment, acute situational anxiety, uncooperative age-appropriate behavior, immature cognitive functioning, disabilities, or medical conditions, benefit from sedation dentistry or general anesthesia.
We seek to provide dental care to all our patients in a manner which will promote excellent quality care and encourage a positive attitude in your child toward dental treatment. Behavior guidance techniques have allowed most children to receive treatment in the dental office with minimal discomfort and without expressed fear. Sedation has provided others with the ability to accept treatment. However, some children require general anesthesia to receive comprehensive dental care in a safe and humane fashion.
Your child may benefit from sedation dentistry if he or she experiences one of more of the following:
- High fear of dental care
- Complex dental problems
- Traumatic dental experiences
- Fear of needles and shots
- Trouble getting numb
- Sensitive teeth
The two most common types of sedation dentistry are:
- Oral conscious sedation
- Inhalation sedation
Oral Conscious Sedation
Conscious sedation is widely used in pediatric dentistry. Through this type of sedation your child will experience a relaxed state while still being conscious. Dr. Cooper will provide your child with an oral medication that is easy to swallow and safe. There are various regimens that Dr. Cooper uses. Depending on your child’s needs, he and his staff will choose the best for your child. When the medication takes effect, your child will be able to speak and respond to external requests.
While very safe, when this method of treatment is used, it is imperative that your child is healthy and that you prevent your child from having anything to eat or drink from midnight the night before the procedure. Failure to do so can put your child at extreme risk of complications to the medications.
Inhalation Sedation
Inhalation sedation uses nitrous oxide and oxygen (laughing gas) to help your child’s body achieve a relaxed state. This is an extremely safe form of sedation used in dentistry today. In order to use this form of sedation, your child must be both physically and cooperatively able to breathe through their nose.
General Anesthesia
General anesthesia is a form of deep sedation in which your child is induced into a balanced state of unconsciousness, accompanied by the absence of pain sensation and the paralysis of skeletal muscle over the entire body. It is induced through the administration of anesthetic drugs and is used during major surgery and other invasive surgical procedures. General anesthesia is intended to bring about distinct states during surgery:
- analgesia, or pain relief
- amnesia, or loss of memory of the procedure
- loss of consciousness
- motionlessness
This is performed by a qualified, properly-trained individual either in our office or in another facility (for example, Northbank Surgery Center) outside the traditional hospital setting. Again, when this method of treatment is used, it is imperative that your child is healthy and that you prevent your child from having anything to eat or drink from midnight the night before the procedure.