Pediatric Sedation Dentist – Bastrop, TX
Comfortable Dental Care
Dental anxiety is common among children and teenagers. Visiting the pediatric dentist might seem like a worrisome and even torturous experience, but it’s not! The reality is that when visiting Smiles University Pediatric Dentistry, our team of dental professionals will keep your child safe, secure, and well-informed. By using nitrous oxide dental sedation or general anesthesia, we can help your child. Contact us to learn if your child is a good candidate for dental sedation with our trusted pediatric sedation dentist in Bastrop, TX.
Why Choose Smiles University Pediatric Dentistry for Sedation Dentistry?
- Calm and compassionate dental team
- Three board-certified pediatric dentists
- Utmost concern for safety
Nitrous Oxide: A Gentle Approach to Comfortable Dental Care for Children
Nitrous oxide, often called "laughing gas," is a mild and safe form of sedation that can make dental visits more comfortable for children. At Smiles U, we use this gentle approach to help young patients feel relaxed and at ease during their dental procedures. Let's explore how nitrous oxide works and why it might be a great option for your child.
How Does Nitrous Oxide Work?
The process is simple and child-friendly:
- A small, comfortable mask is placed over your child's nose.
- Your child breathes in a carefully controlled mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen.
- Within minutes, they start to feel calm and relaxed.
- After the procedure, we switch to pure oxygen, and the effects wear off quickly.
Benefits of Nitrous Oxide for Children
Nitrous oxide can be particularly helpful for children who:
- Feel nervous or anxious about dental visits
- Have a sensitive gag reflex
- Find it difficult to sit still for longer procedures
- Experience dental sensitivities
- Have had challenging dental experiences in the past
The beauty of nitrous oxide is that it helps children feel comfortable without putting them to sleep. They remain awake and able to respond to the dentist but feel much more relaxed and at ease.
Is Nitrous Oxide Right for Your Child?
Most children in good overall health are excellent candidates for nitrous oxide. During a consultation, our experienced team will review your child's medical history and discuss any concerns to ensure this is the best option for them.
In some cases, such as if your child has sinus congestion or certain respiratory conditions, we might recommend alternative comfort measures. We're committed to finding the best approach for each unique child.
After the Procedure
One of the great advantages of nitrous oxide is how quickly it wears off. Here's what you can expect:
- We'll place your child on 100% oxygen for a few minutes.
- We'll observe them briefly to ensure they're back to their usual self.
- In most cases, children can return to their normal activities right away.
Your child's comfort and positive experience are our top priorities. We'll provide any necessary post-procedure instructions to ensure a smooth recovery.
At Smiles U, we're dedicated to creating positive dental experiences for children. Nitrous oxide is just one of the tools we use to make dental visits comfortable, helping to build a foundation for lifelong oral health.
General Anesthesia: Helping Children Fall Asleep for More Comfortable Care
For children who struggle with extreme dental anxiety or require complex dental procedures, general anesthesia is an option. Because this type of sedation causes patients to fall asleep, they will remain completely calm and relaxed the entire time. Our team at Smiles U offers this method of sedation so that we can provide essential treatment without causing young patients to become upset. As a result, general anesthesia allows for a more comfortable experience.
Who is a Good Candidate for General Anesthesia?
It’s important to remember that general anesthesia is a safe form of sedation for young patients and has been used for decades. Those who will be recommended for general anesthesia will be closely monitored throughout their visit to ensure they remain safe, asleep, and fully relaxed. Our Smiles U dental team may recommend this type of treatment for those who experience the following:
- Children who struggle to sit still for long dental procedures
- Those with intellectual, developmental, or physical disabilities
- Children who have severe dental anxiety and are fearful of receiving oral healthcare
- Patients who require complex or extensive dental treatments
- Children who suffer from various medical conditions (i.e., weakened immune system) that can make it difficult to undergo certain dental procedures
The Benefits of General Anesthesia Sedation for Children
In general, sedation dentistry offers many unique benefits. Young patients who feel uncertain or fearful of the dentist’s office will be able to experience this type of essential care in a new and positive way. By providing general anesthesia, though, we can make these visits more enjoyable thanks to the many advantages it offers, such as:
- Greater patient comfort that is completely painless and does not cause anxiety or distress
- A more positive dental experience that allows a greater sense of trust between our team and the child
- A more efficient approach to dental care, as our Smiles U team will be able to perform more complex procedures or multiple treatments in a single visit
- Greater precision on behalf of our team, which leads to superior results
Children's Sedation Dentistry FAQs
Is sedation dentistry safe for children?
Our team at Smiles University Pediatric Dentistry is dedicated to identifying the safest and most effective approach for each child. While sedation dentistry is safe for most children, our team will need to conduct a thorough consultation before deciding how to proceed.
We will go over your child's medical history, their current medications, and any concerns that might exist. This will allow us to determine the most appropriate type of sedation for your child.
Children who suffer from dental anxiety, have a physical or mental impairment, or struggle to sit still in the treatment chair may benefit the most from sedation. You can trust that our anesthesia team as well as our pediatric dental team will closely monitor them throughout their appointment to ensure they remain safe, comfortable, and completely at ease.
Will my child feel any pain with dental sedation?
One of the most common questions we receive from parents is whether their child will experience any pain while receiving dental sedation. The answer is no. When general anesthesia is administered, your child will be unconscious, so they should feel no pain throughout the procedure.
Will my child remember anything after receiving dental sedation?
With general anesthesia, your child will be fully unconscious, so they should not recall anything that happens while undergoing treatment.
This type of memory loss effect makes it easier for nervous patients to receive essential oral healthcare. This is especially helpful for a child who has experienced dental trauma and who is fearful of visiting a dental office.