Sedation Dentistry – Towson, MD
Put Your Child’s Dental Fears to Rest
Dr. Roxanne and our children's dental team are skilled at helping nervous patients relax. Whenever your child visits us, our entire dental team will go out of our way to make them feel safe, comfortable, and welcome. And if they still need a little extra help, we may recommend sedation dentistry in our Towson, MD dental office, which can be used to quiet even the most pronounced dental fears. If your little one has been anxious at past dental visits, give us a call to see how Kids Dental Space can help.
Why Choose Kids Dental Space for Sedation Dentistry?
- Multiple Sedation Options in One Place
- Kind Dentist Who Keeps Patients Calm
- Welcoming, Comfortable Dental Office
Nitrous Oxide
Nitrous oxide is routinely used to make it easier for anxious or nervous patients to sit through their dental treatment. Your child will wear a nasal mask during the treatment so that they can breathe in the nitrous oxide (along with oxygen) throughout the procedure. After we’re done working on their teeth, you’ll only have to wait a few minutes for the effects of sedation to wear off, meaning you can take your child right back to school if need be.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Nitrous Oxide?
Children are generally good candidates for nitrous oxide, as it is deemed a safe form of sedation for all ages. However, just to be safe, we will need to conduct a preliminary consultation so that we can be sure your child’s overall health is in good shape.
If your child suffers from respiratory illness or sinus congestion, nitrous oxide might not be as effective, in which case, you’ll need to discuss an alternative solution or wait until your child is feeling better to undergo treatment.
When meeting with you and your child, you can expect that we will inquire if they exhibit any of the following. If so, there’s a good chance they’ll be able to receive nitrous oxide:
- They are fearful of the dentist’s office
- They do not like needles
- They have a condition that makes sitting in the dentist’s chair for long periods difficult
- They have a sensitive gag reflex
How Does Nitrous Oxide Work?
Administering nitrous oxide is easy to do and takes little time. First, we will start by placing a nasal mask over your child’s nose and instructing them to inhale the nitrous oxide mixture. This will take only minutes for the effects to kick on, allowing your child to become relaxed and fully at ease.
They may admit to feeling warm and even tingly or even slightly euphoric. This will ensure that can complete the necessary treatment while they simply lay back and relax in the dentist’s chair.
Once everything is finished, we will remove the mask and turn off the gas. After breathing in straight oxygen, they will no longer feel the effects, making it possible for them to return to school or go back home for the remainder of the day.
Aftercare for Nitrous Oxide
Nitrous oxide is a go-to option for many young patients because it poses no long-lasting side effects. In fact, the sleepiness and relaxation your child experiences during treatment will quickly fade the moment the mask is removed. Once they feel like their normal self again, you can expect that they will be eager to resume normal activity.
General Anesthesiology
All treatment requiring general anesthesia services will be performed in the hospital while being monitored by an Anesthesiologist.
Sedation Dentistry FAQs
Is Sedation Dentistry Safe for Kids?
If your child is nervous about their dental appointment, you’ll be happy to hear that sedation is an option for many children. Nitrous oxide in particular is well suited for kids; it’s fairly mild as sedatives go and the dosage can be easily monitored for the duration of the treatment.
That said, there are some medications and health conditions that could cause problems if you’re pursuing dental sedation, so we’ll talk to you and your child about their medical history before beginning that kind of procedure.
Is Sedation Dentistry Safe While Breastfeeding?
Nitrous oxide sedation infamously doesn’t stay in the body for very long after the flow of gas stops. As soon as your treatment has completed the presence of sedatives in the body will fade within minutes.
This is to say that nitrous oxide sedations shouldn’t impair your ability to breastfeed. The sedative has little to no chance of transferring into the breast milk.
What Does it Feel Like to be Sedated at the Dentist?
This, of course, depends on the variety of sedative that your child is using. Nitrous oxide sedation, aka “laughing gas,” makes patients feel light and giggly while under its influence. They should be completely conscious, but in a relaxed state for the duration of the procedure.
General anesthesia, on the other hand, will put the patient completely under. They’ll be in a sleep-like state for duration of the treatment, and will likely be able to remember very little of the procedure.
Can Dental Sedation Make You Sick?
In some circumstances, it’s possible for patients to experience a bit of nausea in response to sedation. This is rather rare in the case of nitrous oxide, but the chances increase the longer the gas is administered. This is more likely in the case of general anesthesia, where the necessary drugs are much more powerful.
If your child is unusually prone to nausea, you might have them fast for a few hours before their procedure. This will substantially decrease their risk of serious nausea.