Pediatric Sedation Dentist Hinsdale and Downers Grove
Next Level Comfort for Positive Dental Experiences
It is not uncommon for a child to be afraid of visiting the dentist. Let’s face it, many grown-ups are scared of the dentist as well! While we do our best to calm your little one’s nerves and make them comfortable here at Brush Pediatric Dentistry, sometimes we are unable to complete certain treatments due to a child's overwhelming fear or anxiety. When this happens, one of our pediatric sedation dentists in Hinsdale or Downers Grove might suggest nitrous oxide or general anesthesia, depending on the level of your child's apprehension.
Why Choose Brush Pediatric Dentistry for Your Child’s Sedation Dentistry?
- Pediatric Dentists On-Staff at Lurie Children’s Hospital Chicago
- Compassionate & Highly Experienced Dental Staff
- We Take the Time to Educate Patients & Parents
Nitrous Oxide
Commonly known as “laughing gas,” nitrous oxide is one of the gentlest, safest, and most effective sedation dentistry techniques available today. It’s ideal for children who are just a little bit anxious about coming to see us. They’ll simply inhale the colorless, odorless gas through a small mask on their nose, and within a minute, they’ll feel a warm, comforting sensation throughout their entire body. Many feel like they’re floating! After we’re done with their treatment, we’ll remove the mask, and your child will feel completely normal in less than a minute. They’ll be able to go on about their day without any lasting drowsiness.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Nitrous Oxide?
As a safe method of sedation for children, nitrous oxide can be used to curb mild anxiety and create a more comfortable dental experience for your little one. However, before it can be administered, our team will need to conduct a thorough evaluation and go over your child’s medical history to ensure they are healthy enough to receive this type of sedation.
In most cases, you can expect nitrous oxide to be a good option for your child if they:
- Have a hard time sitting still for prolonged periods
- Have a fear of visiting the dentist’s office
- Struggling with the idea of someone poking and prodding inside their mouth
- Are scared of needles
- Have a sensitive gag reflex
Sinus congestion and respiratory illnesses can make it harder for nitrous oxide to be successful, so this information should be passed along to our team when discussing the possibility of sedation.
How Does Nitrous Oxide Work?
The process of receiving nitrous oxide begins by placing a mask over your child’s nose so that they may begin to inhale the gas mixture. Within minutes, they will begin to feel more comfortable and relaxed, allowing our team to move forward with confidence. Throughout the appointment, we will adjust the levels if necessary to keep your child safe and at ease.
When treatment is complete, we will remove the mask so that your child can begin to breathe pure oxygen.
Aftercare for Nitrous Oxide
The effects of nitrous oxide wear off quickly, so your child will not need to worry about feeling groggy after their appointment. After breathing in pure oxygen for a few minutes, they should be able to resume normal activity and return to school or home following their visit.
This is what makes nitrous oxide such a worthwhile option for children who are nervous about visiting the dentist’s office or who require treatment of any kind. Using safe measures, our skilled team can create a more positive experience for the youngest patients.
General Anesthesia
Our pediatric dentists are not only board-certified, but also on-staff at the renowned Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital, allowing us to have full access to their state-of-the-art facilities. Partnered with a board-certified anesthesiologist, we’re able to offer your child safe and effective general anesthesia in Hinsdale and Downers Grove. After a consultation, our team can help you determine whether this method of dental sedation can help your little one have a more comfortable and positive visit.
Who’s a Good Candidate for General Anesthesia?
The best candidates for general anesthesia are children with extreme dental fear or anxiety, special needs, or those who are disabled and aren’t able to sit comfortably in the treatment chair for long periods of time. Our team recommends this service to make sure that our most sensitive patients, or those with barriers to comfortable care, are able to breeze through treatment to make sure their smile remains healthy. We partner with the best in the field and use the latest leading-edge facilities to make sure that your child receives the expert treatment they deserve.
How Does General Anesthesia Work?
The first step we always take when deciding whether a child needs general anesthesia is conduct a thorough evaluation of their medical records and speak with you, their parent. Because all of our board-certified pediatric dentists are mothers themselves, we understand that you’ll likely have questions, and we’re more than happy to answer them.
Our team is on-staff at the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital and partner with a board-certified anesthesiologist who will administer the general anesthesia. Their complete focus will be monitoring your child as their pediatric dentist works carefully and efficiently to deliver them top-tier dentistry. The medication itself is typically administered via an IV, and although it’s potent, it’s not quite as powerful as the general anesthesia someone may receive for a surgical procedure.
Aftercare for General Anesthesia
After your child wakes up from general anesthesia, they’re likely to feel drowsy and a little groggy, and they won’t remember any aspect of the procedure. During this time, our team will monitor them closely until they’re cleared to be sent home with you. If they’re sleepy, be sure to place them on their side with their chin up and wake them every hour to encourage them to drink to help with nausea and make sure they remain hydrated. Before you leave the hospital, our team will provide you with a more detailed post-operative care instructions list and answer any questions you may have.
If you become concerned for whatever reason after your child’s appointment, please give your pediatric dentist in Hinsdale or Downers Grove a call. We promise that you’re in great hands.
Kids Sedation Dentistry FAQs
Is sedation dentistry safe for kids?
If your child experiences dental phobia or anxiety at the thought of visiting the dentist’s office, our team of board-certified pediatric dentists may recommend sedation dentistry for them. However, we’ll always go over any associated risks and benefits, as well as answer all of your questions before moving forward with anything.
Our board-certified pediatric dentists are specially trained to provide children’s sedation dentistry like nitrous oxide in-office. Whenever general anesthesia is needed, we turn to world-class experts like our board-certified anesthesiologist who will provide care at Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital’s state-of-the-art facilities (where our pediatric dentists are on-staff). Our top priority is your child’s safety, so never fear!
Will my child remember anything with dental sedation?
If your child is receiving nitrous oxide sedation in-office, they may remember some parts of their procedure, but in their memories, they will feel calm and at-ease, not fearful. In many cases, children often recall the floaty and warm feeling of the sedation, but not really any details about their visit. If your child receives general anesthesia, they will remain asleep during the entire procedure and won’t remember anything about their treatment or even what the operating area looks like.
Is children’s sedation dentistry covered by insurance?
Some dental insurance plans cover sedation if it’s deemed medically necessary. Our team will check your benefits beforehand and provide you with a detailed cost estimate to make sure you have a clear idea of what the out-of-pocket cost will be, if any. We’re proud to accept all PPO dental insurance plans and maximize your benefits along every step of the way.
How long does children’s dental sedation last?
If your child receives nitrous oxide sedation, the effects don’t linger for long after their visit, typically only a couple of minutes. This means that if your little one isn’t finished with school for the day, they can comfortably go back with little to no side-effects. However, if your child received general anesthesia, it could take up to 24 hours for the effects to wear off.
Will dental sedation make my child sick?
It’s rarely the case that children feel sick after receiving sedation dentistry in Hinsdale. However, every child is different, so it is possible! If your child does feel sick following receiving sedation, it’s typically in the form of nausea or a slight headache and will wear off within just a few hours.