Minimally Invasive Comfort Techniques
Techniques now exist in children’s dentistry that allow for minimally invasive correction of some types of dental decay. Not every situation can be solved with these newer techniques; however, there are opportunities to remove tooth decay without numbing your child (no injection of a local anesthetic) and to use higher-tech procedures that help your child get the treatment they need in a quick and comfortable fashion.
Our Southern Smiles Pediatric Dentistry team can provide more education during your visit and discuss whether or not issues your child may have can be addressed with these techniques.
Nitrous Oxide Sedation & Dental Anxiety
At Southern Smiles Pediatric Dentistry, we believe that it is vital for us to help children have the safest and most comfortable dental experience possible.
It's well documented that children who have more comfortable, happy dental experiences are far more likely to grow up and adopt the healthy habit of taking care of their teeth and the healthy habit of seeing a dentist regularly in adulthood.
The use of nitrous oxide during dental procedures is a very effective way to relax children and help them relieve anxiety during a dental experience. We offer the latest and safest methods of offering well-controlled nitrous oxide sedation to our patients.
Nitrous oxide is a safe, breathable gas administered simultaneously with oxygen. When inhaled, the body absorbs the nitrous oxide, which has a very calming effect.
The nitrous oxide gas is eliminated from the body quickly just through breathing normally. It takes effect very quickly, and it wears off very quickly afterward.
Nitrous oxide is so effective that we can often fill superficial cavities without injecting dental anesthetic.
Special Instructions & Preparing Your Child For Nitrous Oxide
3 main considerations for you to consider
No. 1: Recent Food Intake
We recommend that your child does not have a full meal / full tummy in advance of a dental appointment with nitrous oxide. In this case, there is a small chance of nausea or vomiting if the stomach is full.
No. 2: Breathing Issues
Also, it is important that you update and inform the doctor and team of any respiratory conditions or breathing issues that your child may have, whether temporary or chronically ongoing.
If your child is having difficulty breathing through the nose (common cold, asthma, sinus problems, etc.), we need to be made aware. Breathing issues may reduce the effectiveness of nitrous oxide & oxygen.
No. 3: Medications
Inform the doctor and our team the day of the dental appointment about any medications taken within the last 24 hours, even if they are over the counter.
Other Types of Sedation
There are several other forms of sedation that can be administered safely; however, they are special circumstances that apply to each different level of sedation.
Valium (Diazepam) & Ativan (Lorazepam)
Valium and Ativan are both orally taken anti-anxiety medications. These medications help manage anxiety and provide a light sedation.
This is a short-acting medication that will not cause your child to go to sleep and has a retro-amnesia effect afterward (usually results in your child forgetting the procedure altogether).
These medications are absorbed in the gastro-intestinal tract and are effective within 30-60 minutes of taking the medication.
Midazolam (Versed)
Midazolam is an orally taken anti-anxiety medication (known as Versed). This is a short-acting medication that will not cause your child to go to sleep and has a retro-amnesia effect afterward (usually results in your child forgetting the procedure altogether).
This is best used for procedures that can be completed rather quickly that the child might perceive as stressful (such as removal /extraction of a baby / primary tooth).
Some children may react in an agitated manner afterward, and hydrating with glucose is often helpful to calm your child). This method does not work well for procedures that will take more than about half an hour from start to finish.
Special Instructions & Preparing Your Child For Midazolam (Versed)
- Eating: No solid foods after midnight the night before the appointment.
- NOTE: Homemade Jellos are acceptable up to two hours prior to the dental appointment.
- Drinking: ONLY clear liquids, and no more liquids 2 hours prior to the dental appointment.
- Examples of approved liquid drinks: Water, clear apple juice, and sprite.
- Dosage: The doctor will carefully calculate the proper dosage.
- Other Medications: Inform the doctor and our team on the day of the dental appointment about any medications taken within the last 24 hours, even if they are over the counter.
In-Office IV Sedation
In certain circumstances, a deeper state of controlled sedation may be recommended. At SouthernSmiles, our pediatric doctor and team are trained in how to recognize when this level of sedation may be necessary.
Currently this is NOT a service that we offer in collaboration with an onsite sedation anesthesiology specialist. We plan on offering this service in the future, which will require special planning and preparation by both our team and by the patient family.
When we begin offering this in the future, our team will provide patient-specific instructions and guide your preparation for this type of appointment
Special Instructions & Preparing Your Child For In-Office Sedation (Versed)
- Eating: No solid foods after midnight the night before the appointment.
- NOTE: Homemade Jellos are acceptable up to two hours prior to the dental appointment.
- Drinking: ONLY clear liquids, and no more liquids 2 hours prior to the dental appointment.
- Examples of approved liquid drinks: Water, clear apple juice, and sprite.
- Dosage: The doctor will base the proper dosage on your child’s current weight. The medicine is usually a cherry-flavored liquid and is swallowed.
- Taking the medication: This medicine is fast-acting with a rapid onset of 15-20 minutes. The doctor will directly administer the medication.
- Other medications: Inform the doctor and our team on the day of the dental appointment about any medications taken within the last 24 hours, even if they are over the counter.
Hospital or Surgical Center Sedation
Our team provides patient-specific instructions and guides your preparation for this type of appointment.
In certain circumstances, a deeper state of controlled sedation may be recommended, and medical history may influence us to consider sedation in a hospital or surgical center.
This requires special planning and preparation by both our team and by the patient family. Our team provides patient-specific instructions and guides your preparation for this type of appointment.