At Lighthouse Pediatrics Dental Team, we know that every patient has a different level of comfort regarding dental examinations. Children, especially, can have a tough time staying still at the dentist due to nervousness or anxiety. That's why we offer sedation dentistry that can help your children relax and get the treatments they need. There are different types of sedation you can choose to meet your child's unique relaxation needs.
Mild Sedation: Nitrous Oxide
If your child often gets nervous about sitting in the examination chair, this is the first and mildest option we offer. Nitrous oxide is better known as "laughing gas" because it helps your child feel calm and happy while they breathe it in. To prepare your child for this sedation, make sure your child eats light before their appointment. Laughing gas is administered comfortably through a mask and takes around 5 minutes to take effect. After the mask is removed, it will take about 5 minutes for your child to return to their previous, more active state.
Moderate Sedation: Oral Medication
Using oral medication is another option if your child is particularly anxious about the procedure. This is stronger than nitrous oxide and provides a deeper feeling of relaxation. It starts working around 20 minutes after your child takes the medicine. Since oral sedation is stronger than laughing gas, your child should come to the appointment on an empty stomach. For this reason, an appointment that is early the morning is ideal if your child needs this type of sedation.
Deep Sedation: General Anesthesia
Under general anesthesia, your child will be completely asleep and pain-free. Our specially-trained anesthesiologist, Dr. Sandhu, will administer medications and monitor your child while the dental procedure is performed. Our dental office is specially equipped to administer anesthesia.