Going to the dentist can be a worrisome experience for anybody, especially kids, however, it doesn’t have to be. We want your child to be as relaxed and stress-free as possible during visits. We offer two sedation options customized to your child’s needs. Each of our sedation options offers their own set of benefits and are safe, effective, and help reduce your child’s anxiety and prevent discomfort during dental visits.
Some of our sedation options include:
- Nitrous oxide: At Oak Tree Pediatric Dentistry, we offer nitrous oxide sedation, more commonly known as “laughing gas,”. Nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, is an inhaled minimal relaxant that wears off quickly and is delivered via a mask that is placed over your child’s nose to help them relax and experience euphoric feelings, while also decreasing discomfort.
- IV sedation: This is for very nervous or special needs children who need further help to relax and stay still. IV sedation is administered with the help of a board-certified pediatric anesthesiologist. When treatment is extremely difficult or there is a great deal of work to complete, intravenous medication can be used for a deeper level of sedation. Children are asleep during their treatment, allowing the dentists to perform quality dentistry while the anesthesiologist ensure your child is safe and comfortable.
Pediatric Dental Sedation
It’s completely normal for kids to feel nervous about going to the dentist, especially for those first few visits or if they require treatment. That’s why, at Oak Tree Pediatric Dentistry, our Greenville children’s dentists use a variety of behavior management techniques to reduce anxiety and help patients relax. If these techniques don’t work and your child is still extremely anxious, our office is equipped to offer mild sedation with nitrous oxide, often called laughing gas.
Laughing gas for kids can also be useful to enable patients to safely get necessary care if they have certain special health care needs or are very young and require extensive treatment. Dr. Jon Chay and Dr. Martha Hendrix will discuss your child’s health history and situation, as well as the pros and cons of sedation to help you make an informed decision.
Benefits of
Nitrous Oxide Sedation
Safe
Nitrous oxide is safe, mild and wears off quickly. Your child will be awake and able to respond to commands while sedated.
Relaxing
Laughing gas dulls discomfort and relaxes patients, making treatment more effective and less stressful.
Helpful for a Range of Patients
It can be a good option for a range of patients, including those with anxiety, severe gag reflexes or certain special health care needs.
Laughing Gas for Kids
Nitrous oxide has been used in dentistry for over a century! It’s still used today because it’s safe, has very few side effects and wears off quickly. When being sedated, your child will breathe in a mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen through a small mask that covers their nose. Within a few minutes, they’ll feel calm, euphoric, tingly and a little bit silly.
Once your kiddo is comfortable, Dr. Chay or Dr. Hendrix will perform the necessary treatment. Your child will remain awake the entire time and will be able to hear, answer questions and respond to directions. When the procedure is finished, we’ll deliver pure oxygen through the mask for several minutes. This will flush out any residual nitrous oxide. Since the effects of the laughing gas wear off in minutes, your child can return to school, daycare or regular activities after their appointment.
1844
Nitrous oxide was first used in a dental setting in 1844.
2 to 3
Nitrous oxide typically takes effect within two to three minutes and wears off just as fast.
#1
In dentistry, nitrous oxide is the most common inhaled anesthetic used to control patient anxiety and pain.
