Ensuring that your child has the best experience possible at Providence PDO is our top priority. Dr. Kaitlin is pleased to offer options for making sure that your child is fully at ease while in our care.
Gentle Sedation Options
One of the most common ways to ease a child’s anxiety and to relax them for their dental treatment is from NO2 Sedation. This is commonly referred to as pediatric laughing gas and is the most popular sedation method in dentistry. It is recommended for children who need small amounts of dental treatment.
NO2/oxygen is a blend of two gases, oxygen and NO2. This sedation method is administered through a small breathing mask which is placed over the child’s nose. This allows your child to relax, but without putting them to sleep. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry identifies this sedation method as a very safe and effective technique to use for treating children’s dental needs.
The gas administered is mild, and this sedation is easily taken and non-addictive. The gas is also quickly eliminated from the body with normal breathing. While inhaling the pediatric laughing gas, your child will remain fully conscious and keep all natural reflexes.
Below are a few side effects your child may feel when receiving the NO2 sedation:
- A warm euphoric feeling
- Lightheadedness
- Floating or tingling in the limbs
- Possible sleepiness
- A Giggling and “funny” feeling
If your child feels discomfort or has an adverse reaction from the NO2 sedation, it can easily be reversed. The percentage of NO2 being administered can also be adjusted during the procedure.
You will see that your child will have no lasting side effects when taking this sedation method. After the procedure, your child can resume day-to-day activities as normal.
General Anesthesia
General anesthesia services are offered at Providence Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics for select procedures. Dr. Kaitlin does not offer this in the office but is credentialed with hospitals in Charlotte. Please review the information below.
What is General Anesthesia?
General anesthesia is the state of pharmacologically induced “sleep”. When you are told that someone will need to be “asleep” for a procedure, often surgical, this is a reference to being placed under general anesthesia. The aim of general anesthesia administration is to provide a lack of sensation and to ensure amnesia (no memory) and analgesia (no pain).
The When, Why and Who’s of Administering Anesthesia
General anesthesia may be recommended for a person for several reasons. Most commonly in our pediatric dental office, general anesthesia is recommended when a child is very young, very fearful, uncooperative or has special circumstances that will not allow them to cooperate for needed treatment. Often, when general anesthesia is recommended, there is a large amount of dental treatment needed or the procedure is too long or uncomfortable to be tolerated by the patient in an awake state.
It is our goal to provide safe, excellent care (in that order) and to provide a non-traumatic experience for our patients. Sometimes, this is only possible through the use of general anesthesia. Pediatric dentist Dr. Kaitlin is highly trained in the field of outpatient dental anesthesia.
