Pediatric Dental Sedation

Here at Camp Little Tooth®, your child’s comfort is very important to us. Because of this, we have a number of sedation options depending on the procedure being performed and on your child’s anxiety level.

Sedation Options At Camp Little Tooth®

Below are the sedation options we offer and a description of each:

Nitrous Oxide

Nitrous Oxide – Nitrous Oxide, also known as laughing gas, is used to help some children to relax before and during their dental treatment. Nitrous Oxide and oxygen are administered through a small breathing mask placed over your child’s nose, causing him or her to be relaxed, but awake and able to follow commands. This gas is very mild, wears off quite quickly, and is safe for your child to breathe.

Before your child’s appointment:

Please let us know if your child has been sick recently. If so, we may need to postpone the appointment.
Let us know if your child has a respiratory condition that may make it difficult for him or her to breathe through their nose.
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 appointment:

Keep a close eye on your child for around six hours after his or her appointment.
Don’t allow your child to ride a bicycle, play near stairs, or perform any activities that require balance for around six hours after the appointment.
If your child is experiencing any discomfort after his or her procedure, feel free to administer over the counter Children’s Tylenol or Motrin.

In-Office General Anesthesia

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.