If your child does need treatment, we have several options that will help to make the experience an easy and positive one. In our office, we do not sedate every child who needs work done on their teeth. Our decisions on how to treat a child are based on what is in the best interest of the child. Our goal is to create a pleasant experience that does not cause your child a lifetime of fearing the dentist.

Some children are given nitrous oxide/oxygen, or what you may know as "laughing gas", to relax them for their dental treatment. Nitrous oxide/oxygen is given through a small breathing mask which is placed over the child's nose, allowing them to relax, but without putting them to sleep. Benefits include a quick onset and recovery, allowing your child to leave the dental office just as he or she came in. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recognizes this technique as a very safe, effective technique to use for treating children’s dental needs. While inhaling nitrous oxide/oxygen, your child remains fully conscious and keeps all natural reflexes.
 
Prior to your appointment:

• Please inform us of any change to your child’s health and/or medical condition.
• Tell us about any respiratory condition that makes breathing through the nose difficult for your child. It may limit the effectiveness of the nitrous oxide/oxygen.
• Let us know if your child is taking any medication on the day of the appointment. If your child takes a medication regularly, administer the meds at the regularly scheduled time unless the medicine is insulin. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask Dr. Reddy.
• Make sure your child has nothing to eat or drink 2-3 hours prior to the treatment time. Contents in the stomach may cause nausea/vomiting.

If your child has a greater degree of dental anxiety, oral conscious sedation may be recommended. There are a variety of different medications which can be used for conscious sedation. The doctor will prescribe the medication best suited for your child’s overall health and dental treatment recommendations. With oral sedation, your child may be quite drowsy, and may even fall asleep, but will not become unconscious.

Prior to your appointment:

• Please notify us of any change in your child’s health and/or medical condition.
• Make sure your child has nothing to eat 6 hours and nothing to drink 3 hours prior to the treatment time. NO DAIRY products for 6 hours at all! These appointments are made during morning hours because of the eating/drinking restrictions.
• Please be aware that most children get cranky and irritable after treatment with oral sedation. Please monitor your child during this recovery period after leaving the office.
• The oral sedative will be given in our office prior to the treatment time. Your child’s weight and level of sedation desired determines the dosage given.
• As with any sedative medication, drowsiness may occur. Do not plan any activities after the sedation appointment (swimming, playing outdoors, riding a bike, etc).
• If your child takes medication, please inform Dr. Reddy before administering. If your child has an inhaler for asthma or asthma-like symptoms, please bring it with you to the appointment.
• Dress your child in loose, comfortable clothing. If she/he has a favorite stuffed animal, blanket or DVD, bring it to the appointment.

After the sedation appointment:

• Your child will be drowsy and will need to be monitored very closely. Keep your child away from areas of potential harm.
• A parent or guardian must be home with your child for the remainder of the day. Do not plan activities for your child because they will feel the effects of the medication for six to eight hours following the appointment.
• If your child wants to sleep, place them on their side with their chin up. Wake your child every hour and encourage them to have something to drink in order to prevent dehydration. At first, it is best to give your child sips of clear liquids to prevent nausea. The first meal should be light and easily digestible.
• Occasionally a child can have a postoperative complication such as nausea, dizziness, and vomiting. If prolonged vomiting occurs, please contact our office. If your child vomits, help them bend over and turn their head to the side to ensure that they do not inhale the vomit.
• Because we use local anesthetic to numb your child’s mouth during the procedure, your child may have the tendency to bite or chew their lips, cheeks, and/or tongue and/or rub and scratch their face after treatment. Please observe your child carefully to prevent any injury to these areas.
• Please call our office for any questions or concerns that you might have.

We offer deep sedation, general anesthesia in our office. Deep sedation is sometimes necessary for children that are unable, by either age or maturity level, to cooperate during dental treatment. Our anesthesiologist is Board Certified and is able to provide effective anesthetic treatment for patients who would otherwise need to have their treatment in a hospital or surgery center.