Sedation Dentistry for Kids

Who sedation can help

Sedation can help a child who feels very anxious about the dentist, needs a longer appointment, or has special health care needs. For young children who need a lot of treatment, finishing everything in one visit while they sleep can be the safest path. We always start with a conversation: why we suggest it, what the alternatives are, and what to expect.

Laughing gas (nitrous oxide)

Your child breathes it through a small nose mask. It calms nerves and helps with comfort, and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recognizes it as a safe and effective technique for children. It works quickly and wears off within a few minutes of breathing pure oxygen at the end. Children stay awake and can talk with us the whole time.

Oral sedation

A liquid medicine your child takes before treatment, for more anxious children or longer appointments. Children are relaxed and drowsy but not asleep. We monitor your child throughout. Afterward, your child needs an adult with them and a quiet rest of the day.

General anesthesia at our surgery center

Some children need treatment that’s easier and safer to do all at once, asleep. That’s what Coliseum Oral Surgery Center in Hampton is for. Children referred by their dentist, ours or an outside dentist, have their treatment under general anesthesia, with an anesthesia provider monitoring them the entire time. Board-certified pediatric dentists do the care. There’s a pre-op call before the visit, and recovery is the same day.

About the FDA warning on anesthesia

In 2016 the FDA said that repeated or lengthy (more than three hours) use of general anesthesia and sedation drugs in children under 3 may affect brain development. It also noted that a single, relatively short exposure is unlikely to have negative effects. We weigh this carefully with you, especially for very young children.

Questions worth asking us

• Why is sedation recommended for my child, and what are the alternatives?
• Who will monitor my child, and what training do they have?
• What are the eating and drinking instructions before the visit?
• What should I expect afterward, and when should I call?

Always follow the eating and drinking instructions your team gives you before sedation. They are there for your child’s safety.