Dental Sedation for Kids in San Antonio, TX
While we do everything we can to make our office a friendly, inviting place where children can feel happy and relaxed, it’s completely normal for kids to feel some sort of nervousness or maybe even fear while at the dentist. Sedation dentistry is a way to handle that feeling so kids can still get the care they need, have positive experiences at the dental office, and maintain a happy, healthy smile.
Contact Us
What is Sedation Dentistry?
Sedation dentistry is the practice of using a type of anesthetic or sedation to help a patient feel more relaxed while undergoing a dental procedure. There are plenty of reasons why sedation dentistry might be the right choice for your child. For example, they might have a fear of the dentist that prevents them from maintaining great oral health, they might have special needs that make it difficult for them to sit through a treatment, or they might have a strong gag reflex that makes it uncomfortable for them to receive dental care. Sometimes if a child is going through multiple procedures or one long procedure, sedation dentistry is the best way for them to get through it all with ease.
Types of Dental Sedation
At our San Antonio pediatric dental office, we offer three different types of dental sedation. Which one is right for your little one will depend on a few different things like their health history and what treatment they’re getting.
- Nitrous Oxide — “Nitrous oxide” may sound a little intense, but you probably know it by its other name: laughing gas! It’s a mild form of sedation that we administer by putting a soft mask over your child’s nose.
- Oral Conscious Sedation — If your child needs a more moderate form of sedation, we may recommend oral conscious sedation. This type of dental sedation is administered in the form of liquid or pill that we prescribe for your child to take before their appointment. Then, when the time comes for their treatment, they’ll be feeling free of any worries or stress.
- General Anesthesia — General anesthesia is frequently the sedation choice when a child is undergoing oral surgery. Since this is a much deeper form of sedation, we take extra precautions when monitoring your child.
Is Sedation Dentistry safe?
We understand that the idea of sedation dentistry can make some parents a little nervous, but rest assured that your child’s health and safety are always our top priorities. When overseen by a trained professional, sedation dentistry is a safe and routine procedure. We will perform careful assessments before administering any sedation and keep a close eye on our young patients throughout the time that they are sedated.
Cost of Sedation Dentistry
The cost of sedation dentistry depends on which type your child will be receiving. In general, nitrous oxide is the most affordable of all the options. Oftentimes, sedation dentistry isn’t covered by insurance, but sometimes general anesthesia may be covered if it’s considered necessary to complete the procedure.
Want to learn more about sedation dentistry at our practice?
