Pediatric Sedation Dentistry Englewood, NJ
Intravenous sedation for pediatric dental patients may be a very helpful and appropriate technique in certain cases. Some children who benefit from sedation include:
- Children with high anxiety of all ages, preventing work from being done while conscious
- Children that are too young to cooperate for the required procedure
- Children that need a large extent of dental work and could not comfortably cooperate for the required length of time
- Special needs children who are unable to cooperate for dentistry while conscious
The first priority is naturally the safety of your child. In addition, we strive to make the procedure as pleasant and stress free as possible for both you and your child.
Choose the Best Sedation Dentist for your Child
Sedation in the dental office can be safely achieved for most children, given the proper personnel and preparation.
The Children’s Dental Health Center at Englewood Dental has a dedicated, Board Certified Anesthesiologist with an expertise in pediatric anesthesia on staff to provide provide the highest standard of care available to your child. A Physician Anesthesiologist has completed at least four years of post-graduate training after four years of Medical School. A Pediatric Anesthesiologist has completed additional training in this sub-specialty, and may have also completed a three year pediatric residency.
Secondly, the selection and preparation of the child and family is critical. Generally, in-office dental sedation is most appropriate for children over the age of 2 who are in good health. The child must be under the care of a Pediatrician who will then provide the child’s medical history and a letter of “clearance” to the anesthesiologist and dentist for review in advance of the procedure. Our office will also provide a questionnaire about your child so we can be fully informed about your child’s medical history and your concerns. The Anesthesiologist will call you prior to surgery to discuss your child’s history, your concerns, and the anesthesia plan.
At the time of the sedation, your child must be well, and free of cold symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat and runny nose which can affect breathing during the procedure.
Pediatric sedation cases are usually scheduled early in the day, as the child may not eat or drink prior to the procedure. An oral per-medication (Versed syrup) may be given to your child upon arrival in the office. This allows the child to become a bit sleepy and more cooperative; often the child will not even recall going into the procedure room. Usually the child is held on a parent’s lap while the anesthesiologist places an IV. Vital sign monitors are placed on the child and the sedative is rapidly given through the IV, allowing the child to fall asleep and the procedure to begin. The Anesthesiologist monitors the child’s vital signs and breathing while administering just enough medication to keep the child asleep and not moving during the dental work. Local anesthetic is usually given to the child by the dentist after the child is asleep, allowing the child to wake up pain free. At the conclusion of the dental work, the parent may come into the procedure room before the child fully regains consciousness, so the child does not have to experience any separation anxiety from the parent. After the completion of the procedure, the child is usually ready to leave within an hour. Depending on the length of the procedure and medications needed, the child may be sleepy for part of the remainder of the day; in all cases the child should spend a quiet afternoon at home. The anesthesiologist and Englewood, NJ pediatric sedation dentist are available to speak with at any time about your questions and concerns, both before and after surgery.
The Children's Dental Health Center at Englewood Dental
Our Latest Patient Testimonial
They treated my son like he was their own. I am so thankful I found this beautiful team to take care of my sons dental needs.
- Jessica F