Pediatric Dentist in Flower Mound

For many restorative procedures, tooth extractions and other oral surgeries, sedation is often necessary to improve patient comfort and help keep restless children at ease. Different types of sedation can be necessary depending on your child’s anxiety level and the amount of treatment they need. Our mission is to ensure that all of our guests have positive and comfortable experiences during treatment, and Dr. Whittington will review all of the options with you so that you can choose the one that best fits your child’s needs.

Types of Sedation

We offer a two sedation options. The first type is the administration of a breathable gas known as nitrous oxide. Also called laughing gas, nitrous oxide is very mild but effective for easing fearful or anxious children. Its effects progress quickly, and as soon as the soft nasal mask that delivers the gas is removed, its effects wear off.

The second is general anesthesia. General anesthesia is an induced state of medical unconsciousness, and it is used for complex or long procedures. Administered intravenously, general anesthesia includes a combination of prescription analgesics and sedatives.

Benefits of Sedation Dentistry

Sedation presents many benefits to young patients – especially those with special needs, those who have anxiety about dental treatment and those receiving surgical care. The medication used in sedation dentistry promotes a calm and peaceful feeling that makes children feel comfortable and free of worry and is notably useful during procedures where stillness is ideal because treatment can be obstructed by fidgety movements. Lastly, sedation can prevent the development of dental phobias by helping patients develop positive associations with visits to the dentist.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kinds of sedation are available?

When it comes to promoting a comfortable environment for our patients, we offer various types of sedation and anesthesia. Sedation and anesthesia are beneficial for reducing discomfort, anxiety and restlessness so that children can receive the oral healthcare they deserve. We use are nitrous oxide sedation. We also utilize general anesthesia.

Nitrous oxide, commonly called laughing gas, is a safe analgesic and mild sedative. Used in medical settings for over a century, nitrous oxide is delivered through a soft nasal mask. Its effects work quickly and it is ideal for helping children feel at ease and comfortable during routine checkups and cleanings.

General anesthesia, is reserved for children particular needs, those who are prone to restlessness and those receiving oral surgery.

My child is very anxious and afraid of shots.  Can we still have sedation?

Sedation is very beneficial for children who have moderate to severe dental phobias and clinical-related anxieties. Our mission is to make sure children receive comfortable treatment and associate positive memories with visiting the dentist. If your child is afraid of shots, there are ways we can administer local anesthetic without causing fear. We can also use techniques to administer local anesthetic in injection form that are almost unnoticeable to children. For instance, we may administer nitrous oxide gas and apply numbing cream before injecting local anesthetic so that fearful children do not experience discomfort. We may also pull operatory mirrors away from view so that children do not see needles and other instruments in their reflections.

How do you know what sedation type is best for my child?

Determining the type of sedation we use for a patient is a carefully considered process. Sedation and/or anesthesia is tailored to the unique needs of a child and only used when our dentist deems it appropriate. Moreover, dosages are prescribed after considering a child’s weight, height, metabolism, known health conditions, medication history, and past surgical history. When sedation is administered, our practice follows strict protocols to ensure the safety of our guests.