At Little Teeth Big Smiles, we offer sedation dentistry for young patients who may have disabilities, children with extensive treatment plans, or children who suffer from anxiety. Sedation dentistry helps children receive dental treatment who may otherwise not be able to receive it in the normal dental setting. There are different options for sedation dentistry that can be used to help children relax and allow the dentist to restore their mouth to a healthy state in a quiet and controlled environment. After an initial examination, if you are interested in sedation or if we feel your child would benefit from a sedation appointment, the pediatric dentist will discuss the different options available to your child.
Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas)
Nitrous oxide, or better known as laughing gas, is a mild form of sedation for children who visit the pediatric dentist and may be overly nervous or anxious about their scheduled treatments. Nitrous oxide helps to ease a patient’s fears to help them relax during their visit. Nitrous oxide oftentimes allows children to receive dental treatment in a comfortable and safe manner. Children sometimes report dreaming and their arms and legs may feel “tingly”. It raises the pain threshold and may even make the time appear to pass quickly. If your child is worried by the sights, sounds or sensations of dental treatment, he or she may respond more positively with the use of nitrous oxide.
Additionally, it reduces the gag reflex which can interfere with effective dental treatment. Typically delivered through a mask over the nose, nitrous oxide is mixed directly with oxygen and delivered as the patient breathes in and out regularly. The patient is usually asked to breath normally through the nose, and as the gas begins to take effect, the child will become more relaxed and less nervous.
Nitrous oxide is 100% safe to use during treatment and is eliminated from the body quickly after the gas is turned off. The child will remain awake during the entire procedure and will be able to interact and communicate with the pediatric dentist. After the procedure is over, the nitrous oxide gas will be turned off and oxygen will be delivered for a few minutes to ensure that all gas is flushed from the system.
Nitrous oxide is perhaps the safest sedative in dentistry. It is well tolerated, has a rapid onset, is reversible, can be adjusted in various concentrations and is non-allergenic. Your child remains fully conscious and keeps all natural reflexes when breathing the gases. Your child will be capable of responding to a question or requests by the dental staff. You should inform our office regarding any respiratory condition that makes breathing through the nose difficult for your child.
Because every child is different, all of our dental services are tailored specifically to your child’s needs. In a very small percentage of children nitrous oxide may not be effective. We will review your child’s medical history, level of anxiety, and treatment needs and inform you if nitrous oxide is recommended for your child.
IV Sedation
IV Sedation is a deep sleep that insulates your child from the stress and discomfort of dental procedures. It involves administering a sedative through an IV to help the medication work more quickly. The amount of sedative used is carefully tailored to each patient to reduce the risk of complications and side effects. Our office has partnered with Pediatric Dental Anesthesia Associates (PDAA). Under the care of Board-Certified Pediatric Anesthesiologists, IV sedation is a safe and effective way to treat all dental needs in one appointment. For more information on PDAA, please visit their website www.pediatricsedation.com or call their office to discuss the benefits and risks of this treatment.
General Anesthesia
Medically speaking, general anesthesia is an induced state of unconsciousness. In practical terms, the patient is asleep and does not respond to touch or sound. It is most often recommended for children with extensive treatment needs and/or an inability to communicate and cooperate. Sometimes it may also be the best way to provide treatment for children with special medical/developmental needs, or high anxiety. All parents should know that children face the same risks of dental general anesthesia as for any other surgical procedure. Our office utilizes the expertise of Dr. Michael S. Higgins, a licensed anesthesiologist who works exclusively with dental sedation. Parents should talk with Dr. Higgins’ office about the benefits and risks of this treatment.
Important Information regarding your child’s upcoming procedure
Since you are considering the advantages of IV Sedation or General Anesthesia for the dental treatment of your child, it will be helpful for you to be aware of a few important details that will ensure a pleasant experience.
To the best of our ability, we will attempt to offer you an appointment that is most convenient for your schedule. However, other important considerations for scheduling include your child’s age, medical status, the urgency of their dental needs, and coordinating the doctors’ schedules.
Dr. Higgins’ or PDAA’s office will contact you to help you prepare for this procedure. It is important that you share all medical information about your child’s health history with their office. Please be prepared to provide the name, address and phone numbers of your child’s pediatrician, and any specialty physicians that may be included in your child’s care. Your child may need a current physical examination performed by their physician prior to their sedation appointment.
DENTAL INSURANCE & FEES:
All IV Sedation or General Anesthesia fees are handled through the anesthesiologist’s office. Dr. Higgins’ office will provide you with an estimate of your general anesthesia fee based on your child’s specific needs. An initial down payment will be due prior to scheduling. For IV Sedation, our office will provide you with an estimate of costs and an initial down payment will be due to PDAA upon scheduling. The remaining payment will be due to the anesthesia office, both Dr. Higgins and PDAA, a few days before the sedation appointment.
Anesthesia care for dental procedures may be a covered expense through your medical insurance carrier. Medical benefits for dental anesthesia vary among insurance carriers. Both Dr. Higgin’s office and PDAA will assist you in obtaining insurance reimbursement information and benefits. For some children with special needs, there may be philanthropic funds available from third party sources such as Grottoes.
All dental treatment fees are handled through Little Teeth Big Smiles and your patient portion must be paid in full prior to scheduling your child’s sedation appointment. Little Teeth Big Smiles will obtain a pre-estimate from your insurance company. While we do everything on our end to ensure the most accurate estimate is obtained prior to your child’s procedure, please keep in mind that this is just an estimate. To obtain the most accurate information, we recommend you call the insurance company to get the best understanding of the covered benefits of your specific plan. Occasionally treatment may change on the day of sedation due to the time that passes from your child’s initial visit and the scheduled sedation appointment, resulting in additional fees. If this should occur, you will be notified of any such changes. Cavities are caused by a bacterial infection and will continue to spread until the disease is removed.
