CHILDREN’S SEDATION DENTISTRY
At SmileTown, Your Child’s Comfort is a Top Priority
At our three kids-only dental offices, we pride ourselves on being a premier dental sedation clinic exclusively focused on children’s dentistry, making us an excellent place to bring your child. Everything within our facilities is meticulously designed to create a child-friendly environment, ensuring a positive and stress-free experience for our young patients. From the expansive 1,500 sq. ft. play area in our Cambridge and Waterloo offices to a dedicated ‘grown-up’ corner, our design prioritizes the comfort and well-being of children.
Our commitment to children’s dentistry extends to the specialized equipment we use, including kid’s benches designed for checkups and cleanings, and tools tailored for small mouths. With in-office dental anaesthesiologists on our team, we have a deep understanding of children’s sedation dentistry, when it’s needed, and how to offer it safely.
Why Choose SmileTown: Just Kids Dentistry for Children’s Sedation Dentistry?
- Multiple Dental Sedation Options Available
- Child-Friendly Atmosphere with Indoor Play Area
- Safely Administered Children’s Dental Anaesthesia
Awake & Relaxed
There are two different types of dental sedation that we offer that will ensure your child remains in a conscious, deeply relaxed state during their visit. These are ideal for children who have anywhere from mild to moderate dental phobia or anxiety, or those with autism or physical or developmental disabilities:
Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas)
Nitrous oxide is also known as laughing gas. It’s inhaled through a mask that we like to call the “elephant nose” and produces a mild level of sedation to help your child feel relaxed, but remain conscious. This method of sedation would be great for children who have mild dental anxiety or fear.
Oral Conscious Sedation
Oral conscious sedation involves taking a prescribed medication prior to your child’s cleaning or treatment. When you arrive at our office, we’ll give your child a small amount of easy-to-drink liquid medication that takes just like chocolate milk! When the effects begin, they may feel a little sleepy due to the deep state of relaxation they experience, but they’ll remain conscious throughout their appointment.
Sleep Dentistry
Sleep dentistry gives your child complete pain relief and renders them unconscious during their treatment, which means they won’t remember any part of their procedure. This is what we call, “procedural sedation,” like what a child would get before receiving an MRI. It’s much different than general anaesthesia you would get for an operation. It’s typically recommended for children with extreme dental phobia, extensive procedures that need to be completed, or for special needs patients.
Who is a Good Candidate for Dental Sedation?
Dental sedation is great for helping reduce your child’s dental anxiety. However, patient health should be considered before any administration of sedation. This conversation will be done at the consultation with one of our dental anaesthesiologists. Based on what services your child needs and their dental anxiety, we will advise what type of dental sedation will work best for their appointment.
What are the Benefits of Dental Sedation?
The main benefit of dental sedation is that it can help alleviate stress that your child may be facing. It also promotes relaxation and comfort during complex and longer dental procedures. For children who experience extreme fear, or for those with special needs, dental sedation can allow them to have a more positive experience, as well as ensure their treatment is done efficiently and accurately. Sedation dentistry provides ideal conditions to provide high quality and long-lasting dentistry.
Children’s Dental Sedation FAQs
Is sedation dentistry safe for children?
Sedation dentistry is considered very safe when a child has been properly evaluated and accepted as a suitable candidate for sedation, as well as when the sedation is being administered with the knowledge and training to sedate children. At SmileTown: Just Kids Dentistry, our children’s sleep dentistry is provided by specialists who are certified in dental anaesthesiology. It helps control the anxiety and discomfort of patients during dental procedures.
Before sedation is recommended, dentists evaluate the medical history and necessity of each child to avoid excess dosage. Our team is also always happy to answer any questions parents may have to ease some of their own anxiety or concerns.
How can sedation dentistry help children with dental anxiety?
Sedation dentistry can significantly help children with dental anxiety by creating a calm and relaxed environment during dental procedures. Through medication, pain and fear of treatment are controlled; thus, children are able to have inpatient management efficiently without any stress. This approach not only improves their experience when undergoing treatment, but also helps cultivate good feelings towards the dental team and visiting the office in the future.
How should I prepare my child for a sedation dentistry appointment?
Before your child receives sedation dentistry, it is highly recommended that you explain it in child-friendly language, helping them understand that the service will help them feel relaxed and at-ease. Explain any specific instructions that may be given prior to the appointment, such as the need to stop eating or drinking or the use of medications. Pack some favourite things, such as a stuffed animal, to help with the worry. Lastly, reassure your child that the dentist will take great care of them.
What can I expect after my child's sedation dentistry procedure?
Once your child has undergone sedation dentistry, For the next couple of hours, expect your child to be sleepy and somewhat dazed as the sedation wears off. Your child may also be slightly groggy, disoriented, or unable to remember certain things. Keep a close watch on them after the surgery and allow them to rest as much as possible. Ensure that you follow your child’s dentist’s post-operative instructions, especially when it comes to eating certain foods and taking medication to help ease any discomfort.
Are there any side effects of sedation dentistry for kids?
It is important to note that sedation dentistry for children has its risks, although most of them are relatively mild. Drowsiness, nausea, and occasionally a period of mild confusion as the sedation wears off are among the most commonly experienced effects. However, severe reactions are very uncommon. One would need to talk to the dentist about any fears prior to the procedure in order to avoid any risks and distress to your child.
How long does dental sedation last for children?
The duration of the effects of dental sedation in children usually falls within the brackets of one to two hours, depending on the kind of sedation dentistry procedure used. Laughing gas, also called nitrous oxide, dissipates fast and usually takes a few minutes to wear off after it’s no longer being administered. On the other hand, oral conscious sedation and procedural sedation takes longer. Children are fully awake before they leave the office but may have residual sedation effects up to twelve hours.