General anesthesia is used when all other methods have not been successful. This form of sedation will allow your child to sleep throughout his or her entire appointment while completing all of their treatment. This is the same form of sedation that would be used if your child was having tonsils removed or ear tubes placed. At Camp Little Tooth® we understand that this type of procedure can be very emotional and stressful. Instead of having to go to an outpatient surgery center, we have the best anesthesiologist on staff to provide the same anesthesia services right in our office. This way, you and your child can be comfortable in a familiar setting, while being assured to receive the best and safest care. Dr. Kristen Berger will monitor your child’s vitals closely throughout the entire procedure making sure everything is going safely. The benefits of providing general anesthesia services outweigh the risks, especially when it comes to not allowing dental decay to become more severe and making sure your child has a positive dental experience.

Before your child’s appointment:

• Please let us know if there’s been a change in your child’s health recently. If so, we may need to postpone the appointment.
• Tell us about any medication your child is taking or has taken on the day of the appointment.
• Please make sure that your child uses the restroom before his or her appointment.
• Avoid giving your child solid food for at least two hours before sedation.
• A parent or legal guardian needs to remain in the office for the duration of the child’s procedure.
• Please make sure your child is dressed in comfortable, loose-fitting clothing.

After your child’s sedation:

• Your child will be drowsy and it’s important that you monitor him or her closely for the rest of the day.
• Allow your child to sleep on their side with their chin up and not resting on their chest.
• Encourage your child to drink clear liquids to prevent dehydration.
• Make their first meal after sedation a light one to prevent nausea.
• Before leaving, you will be given a detailed list of ‘post-op instructions,’ and an emergency number to call if needed.
• Please call our office with any questions or concerns you may have.

We know that having your child sedated can be very stressful and emotional for parents. Please don’t hesitate to ask any questions you may have, as we want you to be as comfortable as possible with your decision to sedate your child for pediatric dental treatment. Any questions can be happily answered by giving our kid’s dental staff a call at 303-604-1000.