Board-certified pediatric dentist Dr. Krista Hinchey of Dogwood Pediatric Dentistry in Savannah often receives questions regarding oral sedation and its use in their dental office.
At Dogwood Pediatric Dentistry, they pride themselves on being a Preventative office, in that they offer cleanings and regularly schedule hygiene visits with detailed instructions on diet and how to prevent cavities. When dental decay does occur, Dogwood Pediatric Dentistry offers three different options at their office for treating those pesky “sugar bugs.”
Here is Dr. Krista’s info on sedation.
What is Sedation and how is it used in a Dental setting at Dogwood Pediatric Dentistry?
1. Small procedures in cooperative children can often be done with local anesthesia (numbing jelly) with or without nitrous oxide. The most common form of sedation we routinely use in our office is nitrous oxide (laughing gas). This is given through a small breathing mask which is placed over the child’s nose. The AAPD recognizes this technique as a very safe, effective technique to help relax your child during treatment.
2. Slightly more involved procedures in certain children will require the use of an oral medication along with nitrous oxide to help relax your child and facilitate cooperation with the procedure. These procedures are scheduled carefully, require your child to be fasting the morning of the procedure, and also be free of any respiratory symptoms in the two weeks preceding the procedure. We monitor the children during sedation with a pulse oximeter and heart monitor. All of our personnel at Dogwood have been trained in oral sedation. We do NOT hold children down and will stop the procedure if the child is uncomfortable.
3. Some young children require extensive amount of dental work. In these situations, it is difficult for a small child to cooperate fully. For these children, we may recommend treating your child in the operating room at a hospital under general anesthesia.
If you have any questions regarding any of these methods, please feel free to give Dogwood a call, 912-298-5437. Dr. Krista would LOVE for you to call Dogwood Pediatric Dentistry your dental home.
Dogwood Pediatric Dentistry, www.dogwoodsmiles.com, 4849 Paulsen St., Suite 101, Savannah 31405, 912-298-KIDS (5437), email admin@dogwoodsmiles.com. Dogwood Pediatric Dentistry is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser
