Sedation Dentistry
Office Environment
Colorado Springs Pediatric Dentistry was designed for the child in mind. Children enter into an environment where they are able to enjoy games, children's books, and televisions in all the treatment areas. This atmosphere helps children relax and enjoy their dental experience.
Psychology
Research has shown that adult dental fears that inhibit patients from seeking treatment are often the result of an unpleasant experience with the dentist as a child. Our goal is not to complete treatment at any costs, but to help your child become an adult who routinely and comfortably seeks dental care. This often requires extra time with your child, distraction through many of our child friendly amenities, or in some cases the use of appropriate sedatives. It is very important to discuss with the doctors any bad experiences or fears your child may have in order to provide the best possible care for your child.
Sedation
NITROUS OXIDE “LAUGHING GAS”
Dr’s Jeff and Derek offer Nitrous oxide sedation (laughing gas) for the slightly anxious child. Nitrous oxide helps a child who is cooperative but worried about various aspects of their appointment. It helps make the injections less noticeable and helps to alleviate anxiety about having instruments placed in the mouth, and with the noises that they make. It is important to realize that nitrous oxide requires a certain amount of cooperation from the child, they are required to have a plastic nose piece placed over their nose and to breath through their nose. Nitrous oxide is not effective in children who are too young or too anxious to sit in the chair and have the nose piece placed on their nose.
Nitrous oxide is an extremely safe sedation alternative. When your child is breathing nitrous oxide they are receiving more oxygen then they are getting in room air!
When the mask is placed on the child's nose, it will take 1-5 minutes for the effects to be seen. Some children are very dissociated, as if they are unable to talk, while others become very comfortable and may giggle or tell stories. Occasionally a child will fall asleep, but typically your child will be awake for the entire procedure. After treatment is complete, the nitrous gas is turned off and your child will breath 100% oxygen for a few minutes to clear the nitrous from their system. This helps to alleviate dizziness. Your child will then be placed in a seated position for a few minutes to be sure they are not dizzy. Some children appear as if they have just woken from a nap for about 30 minutes. This is normal and will subside shortly. Some children begin crying or become agitated once the nitrous has been turned off, because the anti anxiety effects of the gas have been removed.
ORAL SEDATION
Oral sedation is a procedure that allows treatment to be completed on children who are unable to accept dental treatment while completely awake. The medications are administered orally in office. The medications will not necessarily make your child sleep. Your child likely will have some memory of the treatment performed but will not remember everything.
Oral sedation is also a very safe procedure for healthy children. However, more risks are associated with this procedure, thus it is important to have a frank discussion with the doctors about your child's health history prior to the appointment.
The day of your child's appointment your child will arrive in our office on an empty stomach. The doctor will review your child's health and treatment needs. The doctor will then give your child some medication to drink. This will relax your child in about 30-45 minutes. At this point your child will be taken back to the treatment area. If it was not possible to obtain xrays previously, xrays will be taken and an assistant will advise you of the results and review any changes in the treatment plan. After dental treatment is complete your child will begin to wake up. Most all children are very sleepy during tx, however the medications will not make your child sleep through all of the treatment and they may remember part but not all of the treatment performed. Some children are very sleepy when they wake up, some cry and are agitated and some get the shivers. Remember, your child has a lot of medication in their system and may be very confused and groggy after treatment. Your doctor will give you post operative care instructions and will allow you to go home when your child is alert enough. Please visit the treatment-post op care section of this website if you are having trouble remembering the instructions. Do not hesitate to call our office if you have questions or concerns.
GENERAL ANESTHESIA
General Anesthesia is the only procedure by which your child can “sleep” through all treatment. This involves delivering medication(s) at a regulated rate to maintain a desired level of sedation (sleep). A breathing tube is placed and heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen concentration are monitored very closely. The drug combinations and dosages will be specifically tailored to your child’s needs. These procedures can only be done at a hospital or surgery center where the anesthetics can be delivered by an anesthesiologist.
General anesthesia can provide several benefits for your child’s dental visit. It can reduce psychological trauma by relaxing him/her and relieving their anxiety, which in turn allows for safer and more effective delivery of dental treatment. Another benefit is a loss of memory of the experience (amnesia), which reduces future dental anxiety. Children who have dental work done with General Anesthesia do not remember having any treatment performed.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN DURING MY CHILD’S APPOINTMENT?
Dr. Derek or Dr. Jeff and the anesthesiologist will visit with you and answer any questions you may have as well as check your child’s health. Then your child will be taken into the surgery room where he/she will breathe through a mask, which will put them into a light sedation (sleep). Once your child is asleep an IV will be started, a breathing tube will be placed, and the dental procedure will begin. When the procedure is complete, your child’s sedation level will be lowered and they will be taken to a recovery room where you can sit with them until they wake up and it is determined that they are safe to go home. Dr. Derek or Dr. Jeff will visit with you again and answer any further questions you may have.
WHAT ARE THE RISKS?
Risks include, but are not limited to, adverse reactions to an administered medication(s) that may cause nausea, dizziness, or breathing problems, and although considered very rare, convulsions, coma, system impairment, permanent or temporary nerve damage, disability and death.
ARE THERE OTHER OPTIONS?
Delaying treatment is a possibility, however, progression of dental disease could possibly lead to an emergency situation, including abscess, infection, pain, fever, or damage to the permanent teeth.
WHAT ARE MY RESPONSIBILITIES?
Your child will need to be medically cleared for treatment under General Anesthesia by their physician.
Do not let your child eat anything after midnight the day before the scheduled surgery.
Arrive to your appointment on time. If you need to reschedule, give us at least 48 hours notice.
Pay your portion of your child’s dental work one week before the scheduled surgery.
WHAT IS THE COST?
The dental work is billed separate from the anesthesia and hospital facility charges. Your portion for the dental work is highlighted on your treatment plan. Check your health insurance benefit booklet for your surgery benefit. Our office will be happy to pre-authorize the general anesthesia and facility charges with your medical insurance. However, even a preauthorization does not guarantee payment. If you have further questions about the anesthesia and facility charges, please call the facility where your child’s surgery is scheduled. Our office does not have this information.
WHEN AND WHERE WILL THE SURGERY BE PERFORMED?
The fromt office will call the hospital or surgery center to schedule your appointment. The Surgical Facility will call you the day before the scheduled appointment with the time you should arrive. The younger your child is, the earlier your appointment will be.
Currently we see General Anesthesia cases at the following facilities:
- Memorial Hospital
- Penrose Community Hospital
- Briargate Surgical Center
- The Children’s Hospital