Types of Sedation and Anaesthesia

cartoon bird

Just Kids Dentistry – One amazing Paediatric Facility.

Having a practice that is limited to just children is unique and unprecedented. In our three paediatric dental offices everything is specifically designed for children. From our 1,500 sq. ft. play area in our Cambridge office, a separated ‘grown-up’ corner, to the paediatric benches for check ups and cleanings and equipment for small mouths. Our doctors and staff understand paediatric dentistry and paediatric sedation/anaesthesia, as we have in-office dental anaesthesia experts. Your child receives the appropriate care under the appropriate conditions. That’s because we do *Just Kids Dentistry.* 

We do not:

  • call outside dental anaesthesiologists to our facility to perform treatment procedures;
  • travel to other general dental offices to provide paediatric dentistry or dental anaesthesia services;
  • provide medical sedation or anaesthesia services for adult procedures in hospitals or surgical suites.

In addition:

We do NOT charge a facility fee
We do NOT charge an administrative fee
We do NOT charge a pre medication fee

While anxiety, fear and pain can be modified by behaviour management techniques, in many cases some level of dental sedation is required. Usually these children are younger and although procedures are not particularly uncomfortable, they require the child to lie still. Sedation and anaesthesia allow a child to cope better with dental treatment. This can lead to better clinical outcomes and help prevent injury from uncontrolled or undesirable movement.

There are four ways to manage behaviour so that children can undergo medical/dental treatment:

  • Awake

    Awake dentistry does not involve any form of sedation, but more distraction and comfort behaviour modification techniques. Some general dentists are naturally gifted in dealing with children; however our SmileTown kids dentists are formally trained in these techniques, leading to a more comfortable and stress-free dental experience for children of all ages without the use of sedation.

    • What you see

      Movement and vocalization is expected, however is limited due to behavioural management techniques used to keep your child relaxed.

    • Training

      Paediatric Dentist
      General Dentist

    • Method

      • Tell-show-do/voice control
      • Non-verbal communication
      • Positive reinforcement
      • Distraction
      • Parental presence/absence protective
      • Stabilization

    • Appointment, Freezing, Predictability

      • Multiple appointments may be required if several areas need treatment
      • Requires local anaesthesia (freezing)
      • Unpredictable; depends on age, pre-existing level of anxiety, type and amount of dental treatment

  • Conscious Sedation

    During conscious sedation your child is not asleep. It makes you feel more calm, but you are still alert. Conscious sedation in Waterloo is commonly achieved with laughing gas, drinks or a combination of both. Conscious dental sedation can be unpredictable and results can vary from child to child, especially for those with issues with breathing through the nose. Other reasons conscious sedation in Cambridge may not be ideal for your child is because of the age of your child, their level of stress and anxiety as well as the amount of dental work required.

    Nitrous oxide is one of the most commonly used sedatives in dentistry, and with good reason – it is simple to receive and it quickly leaves the body once the procedure is complete, leaving your child with no lingering side effects.

    • What you see

      Movement and vocalization expected

    • Training

      Paediatric Dentist
      General Dentist

    • Method

      • Nitrous oxide (laughing gas) inhalation
      • Oral sedation (drink or pill)
      • Nitrous oxide plus oral sedation

    • Appointment, Freezing, Predictability

      • Multiple appointments may be required if several areas need treatment
      • Requires local anaesthesia (freezing)
      • Can be unpredictable; depends on age, type and amount of dental treatment, pre-existing level of anxiety
      • Some children may still become agitated or distressed

  • Deep Sedation

    Your child will be fully asleep during deep dental sedation. Our dentist anaesthesiologists are trained, registered and licensed to provide deep sedation to children.  Deep sedation is commonly achieved with incremental doses of a medication (the medication is effective for 3–5 minutes) through an intra venous (IV). As an example, deep sedation is what adults experience to allow for colonoscopy procedures to be successful and comfortable. This same technique and medications can be used to treat children for restorative dental procedures. Deep sedation in Waterloo is extremely predictable. Placing an IV in an awake child can be challenging, therefore, children are initially sedated with an anaesthetic vapour while they watch a movie prior to IV placement.

    This form of sedation also allows for us to complete all treatment required during a single appointment, rather than having you come back multiple times. This is a very predictable source of sedation and is most commonly used for younger, high-anxiety, fearful or uncooperative patients or for those who require extensive or technique sensitive dental work. You will always have a consultation with one of our anaesthesia providers to explain deep sedation, all available options, as well as to discuss anaesthesia safety.

    A dentist anaesthesiologist is the only dentist that has this level of training.

    • What you see

      Some movement
      No vocalization

    • Training

      Dentist Anaesthesiologist

    • Method

      Intra venous (IV) sedation

    • Appointment, Freezing, Predictability

      • Usually one treatment appointment
      • No local anaesthesia (freezing) unless tooth is removed
      • Predictable; treatment will be completed fully

  • General Anaesthesia

    General anaesthesia is commonly used for operations in hospitals. General anaesthesia involves placing an endotracheal (breathing) tube and using anaesthetic vapors and other intra venous (IV) medications to keep a patient asleep. General anaesthesia is extremely predictable. As with deep sedation, children are initially sedated with an anaesthetic vapour while watching a movie prior to IV placement.

    Dentist anaesthesiologists and medical anaesthesiologists have this level of training.

    • What you see

      No movement
      No vocalization

    • Training

      Dentist Anaesthesiologist
      Physician Anaesthesiologist

    • Method

      Anaesthetic vapour inhalation through an
      endotracheal tube

    • Appointment, Freezing, Predictability

      • One treatment appointment
      • No local anaesthesia (freezing) unless tooth is removed
      • Predictable; treatment will be completed