Pediatric Dentistry of Redlands

When some dental procedures are done for children, it may require them to have dental sedation for a variety of reasons. If your child is very anxious about visiting the dentist, is having a procedure done that requires a cavity, root canal or other dental procedure that is different from the routine cleaning, it may require your child to have dental sedation. Nitrous Oxide or laughing gas may be utilized in order to help your child be able to remain calm. This is usually a very quick process and is administered with a mask that has a mix of oxygen and nitrous oxide. This is known as laughing gas. Once your child is relaxed Dr. Fuller and his team will begin the procedure. Once the procedure is over, the dentist will give them pure oxygen in order to clear out any remaining nitrous oxide. It may be needed for your child to refrain from having food or drink prior to sedation depending on the type of sedation recommended. If it has been recommended that your child receive seda...

It can be difficult for any child to get serious dental work completed, but even more problematic for a child with special needs. There are multiple options available to help support your child during this procedure depending on the type of procedure and the length of procedure. Each of the risks has pros and cons depending on some variables.   Dr. Fuller recommends, “Local anesthetic and/or nitrous oxide can be utilized for shorter procedures, or if one or two teeth are being pulled.” Nitrous is a gas that is breathed and is immediately eliminated from the child’s system once the device is removed from the nose. Local anesthetic requires a small needle to inject a numbing agent into the gums. This can be a bit scary for a child who does not understand what is happening. If you are going to choose this method, it is critical to prepare your child in adva...

Conscious sedation is another method that can be used for children during a dental appointment. It may be recommended if your child is struggling to wear the Nitrous Oxide mask, if your child is apprehensive, has special needs or is very young.   Conscious sedation is considered safe in children to use for dental procedures. Your child will be monitored both during and after the procedure, as they can be very drowsy.   It is recommended that you keep your child awake after the procedure for at least two hours in order to make sure there are no problems.   There are multiple medications that can be used for conscious sedation.   While each medication is a little different, on the day of the appointment your child should not have a nap right before, should only drink clear liquids and should not eat. “Not eating reduces the risk of vomiting,” says pediatric dentist, Dr. Cameron Fuller.   Conscious sedation is not a common practice...