Sedation & General Anesthesia for Children
At Children’s Dental Care & Orthodontics, our goal is to help every child have a safe, comfortable, and positive dental experience. We understand that children have different needs when it comes to dental treatment. Some children may feel anxious or have difficulty tolerating dental procedures, while others may require extensive treatment that can be challenging to complete during a traditional dental visit.
Nitrous oxide is commonly used during routine dental treatment to help children feel more relaxed, comfortable, and at ease in the dental chair. Children remain awake and responsive throughout treatment, and its calming effects wear off quickly once the procedure is complete.
For some children, general anesthesia may be considered to provide the safest and most comfortable dental experience. This may include children who are very young, have significant dental anxiety, have special healthcare or developmental needs, or require more extensive or complex dental treatment. Under general anesthesia, your child is fully asleep while necessary dental care is completed. Your child’s pediatric dentist will carefully consider their age and developmental level, medical history, individual needs, dental treatment needs, level of anxiety, and ability to cooperate when determining whether general anesthesia is an appropriate option.
Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas)
Nitrous oxide, commonly called laughing gas, is a safe and effective option used to help children feel more relaxed and comfortable during dental treatment.
Nitrous oxide is delivered through a small mask placed over your child’s nose. Your child breathes a mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen while remaining awake, responsive, and able to communicate with the dental team.
Nitrous oxide may be helpful for children who:
- Feel nervous or anxious about dental treatment
- Have difficulty relaxing during procedures
- Have a sensitive gag reflex
- Need a little extra help feeling comfortable or confident during their visit
The effects of nitrous oxide begin quickly and can be adjusted throughout the procedure. Once treatment is complete, the nitrous oxide is turned off and your child breathes oxygen. The effects typically wear off within just a few minutes.
Nitrous oxide does not put your child to sleep. Most children remain fully awake and can talk with us throughout their appointment.
General Anesthesia
For some children, completing dental treatment safely and comfortably while awake may not be possible. In these situations, general anesthesia may be recommended.
Under general anesthesia, your child is fully asleep and unaware of the dental procedure. This allows necessary dental treatment to be completed without your child experiencing the sights, sounds, or sensations of the procedure.
General anesthesia may be considered for children who:
- Are very young and require significant dental treatment
- Have severe dental anxiety or fear
- Are unable to safely cooperate for necessary treatment
- Have special healthcare or developmental needs that make traditional dental treatment difficult
- Require extensive or complex dental treatment
- Have had unsuccessful attempts at completing necessary treatment using other behavior guidance techniques
General anesthesia is not recommended solely for convenience. Your child’s dentist will carefully evaluate the risks and benefits and discuss why general anesthesia may be appropriate before proceeding with treatment.
Is General Anesthesia Safe for Children?
Your child’s safety is our highest priority. General anesthesia requires careful planning, appropriate monitoring, and a team experienced in caring for children.
At our in-office surgery centers (Savage & Lakeville locations), we work with the same dedicated anesthesia team, allowing our pediatric dentists and anesthesia providers to work closely together as a coordinated team. This familiarity and collaboration help us provide consistent, efficient care while keeping your child’s safety our #1 priority throughout their entire experience.
Before treatment, our team will carefully review your child’s medical history and provide detailed instructions regarding eating and drinking, medications, illness, and what to expect on the day of the procedure. It is very important to follow these instructions closely to help keep your child safe.
Your child is continuously monitored by the anesthesia team throughout the procedure while our pediatric dentists focus on providing their dental treatment. Parents will also receive detailed instructions for caring for their child after the procedure.
Which Option Is Right for My Child?
Every child is different. Many children are able to complete dental treatment with traditional behavior guidance techniques which may include nitrous oxide. For children who cannot safely or comfortably complete necessary treatment while awake, general anesthesia may be considered.
Our pediatric dentists will work with you to determine the safest and most appropriate approach based on your child’s:
- Age and developmental level
- Medical history
- Dental needs
- Anxiety and previous dental experiences
- Ability to cooperate for treatment
- Overall safety and well-being
We encourage parents to ask questions and be involved in the decision-making process. Our goal is to provide the dental care your child needs while creating the safest and most positive experience possible.