In-office sedation dentistry and general anesthesia are available for your child’s comfort at Greenhaven Pediatric Dentistry in Davis and Sacramento, CA. Out-patient general anesthesia in a hospital setting is recommended for very young children and children with special needs that would not work well for in-office general anesthesia. We want every patient to be comfortable, calm, and pain-free during dental treatments.
Nitrous Oxide
Some children are given nitrous oxide, or what you may know as “laughing gas,” to relax them for their dental treatment. Nitrous oxide is a blend of two gases, oxygen, and nitrogen. Nitrous oxide is given through a small breathing mask that is placed over the child’s nose, allowing them to relax, but without putting them to sleep. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recognizes this as a very safe, effective technique used for treating children’s dental needs. Some of the benefits include:
- Fast Acting
- No Needles
- Effective Pain Relief
- Quick Recovery
- Eases Dental Anxiety
The gas is mild, easily taken, then with normal breathing, it is quickly eliminated from the body. It is non-addictive. While inhaling nitrous oxide/oxygen, your child remains fully conscious and keeps all natural reflexes.
General Anesthesia
Although most children are cooperative enough to complete their treatment while awake, some children need to be completely sedated to provide safe and effective care to them. The main reason our office would recommend General Anesthesia depends on the complexity of a child’s treatment needs and the level of cooperativity of that particular child.
Safety is our utmost concern. At Greenhaven Pediatric Dentistry, we aim to safely treat every child without physical or emotional trauma. As pediatric dentists, we try our hardest to cultivate a lifetime of trauma-free oral health.
If you decide to perform general anesthesia, a dedicated anesthesiologist would sedate your child while the dentist performs dental care on your child. During every general anesthesia, there would be two doctors (Anesthesiologist and Pediatric Dentist) in the room with extensive anesthesia and pediatric medicine experience along with a registered dental assistant caring for your child while they are sleeping.
Hospital Dentistry
Outpatient General Anesthesia is recommended for apprehensive children, very young children, and children with generalized decay or with special needs that would not work well with in-office anesthesia. General anesthesia renders your child completely asleep. This would be the same as if they were having their tonsils removed, ear tubes placed, or hernia repaired. This is performed in a hospital or outpatient setting only.
The risks with anesthesia are low, but skipping dental treatment comes with many risks.
- Tooth Pain
- Infection & Swelling
- New Decay
- Damage To Developing Adult Teeth
- Possible Hospitalization From A Dental Infection
Safe, Sedation Dentistry For Kids In Sacramento & Davis
We value our patients and always strive for a positive dental experience. Dental health matters and we want to see your child with the bright, healthy smile they deserve. We are proud to offer these sedation dentistry and anesthesia options for children. Contact us today to get more information or to book your appointment with Greenhaven Pediatric Dentistry. We are located in Sacramento and Davis, CA, and serve the surrounding metro area.
