SEDATION DENTISTRY

Fear of the dentist is very common among children and it can make it difficult to get your child the dental care they need for good oral health. In many people, a fear of seeing a dentist comes from painful memories of a prior treatment. That’s why it’s important to work with a pediatric dentist in Los Angeles who offers sedation dentistry options.

At Smile Street Dentistry, we believe that sedation is a safe option that allows us to give your child a positive experience at the dentist while addressing all of their needs in a single visit. We use a variety of sedation options to fit your child’s comfort level ranging from “laughing gas” or nitrous oxide to full IV sedation during which your child will remain asleep.

A pediatric dentist can use sedation for younger children, school-age children, and teenagers to prevent dental anxiety during an appointment. This doesn’t just result in less stress in the short-term; it can also make your child more likely to continue great oral care habits throughout their life while getting over their fear of seeing the dentist.We use different forms of sedation matched to your child’s anxiety level and ability to remain still to deliver compassionate, painless, and completely worry-free care. We may recommend sedation dentistry in Los Angeles for patients who are especially nervous, young, or simply need a complex or long procedure.

Your children’s specialty dentist may also recommend sedation to help children with special needs receive the complete dental care they need in a comfortable and stress-free environment. At Smile Street Dentistry, we always welcome patients with special needs and we go above and beyond to provide the best quality care with safety and comfort in mind. Sedation can help patients receive even a number of dental procedures in a single visit without the risks of spontaneous movements, uncooperative behavior, or anxiety.

There are three main types of sedation offered by your local pediatric dentist based on your child’s anxiety level, ability to remain still, and any special needs. With conscious sedation, your child can follow directions and communicate during the entire procedure. Unconscious sedation puts your child to sleep during the procedure so they won’t remember anything.

The most mild form of sedation is nitrous oxide. A nitrous oxide childrens dentist will recommend this option, also called laughing gas, to ease a child’s anxiety or nervousness. Nitrous oxide is delivered through a mask over your child’s nose. This type of sedation offers several benefits. It’s very fast-acting, completely painless to deliver, and it wears off within minutes once the mask is removed. Your child will relax very fast and feel very happy during the procedure.

For children who are more anxious or unable to stay very still for a prolonged period of time, oral sedation is an option. There are many forms of oral sedatives but they work by making your child drowsy. IV sedation is the deepest form of sedation we offer and it’s best for children who are very scared of going to the dentist and those who require extensive work. This type of deep sedation is always done with another qualified medical professional who monitors your child’s vital signs at all times.