Sedation dentistry uses medication to help reduce a patient’s fear and anxiety during dental procedures. Sedation dentistry can come in many forms, from medication you swallow before the procedure to Nitrous oxide (“laughing gas” or conscious sedation), or general anesthesia in the hospital known as “sleep dentistry”.
There are more concerns about the use of sedation with young children than ever before. There have been studies linking increased risk of learning disabilities with general anesthesia in children. In some extreme cases, though rare, death is a critical side effect most seen in patients with compromised health.
At One Loose Tooth, we treat the child as a whole, understanding that the brain and the rest of the body are more important than one single tooth. For this, every procedure and material is methodically chosen to benefit the child’s entire being.
While we do not offer any drug sedation modalities, we do of course use local anesthetic to make sure the child does not feel any pain during treatment, and our loving staff treats all of our patients with compassion, love, and respect.
Along with essential oil diffusers and a selection of kid-friendly games and movies, our staff are trained to put patients at ease. Children begin to associate dentistry with play, learn they are in a safe place, and eventually are able to relax in this fun-loving environment. Many of our patients even look forward to coming to the dentist!