Nitrous oxide (laughing gas) was used in dentistry as early as the early 19th century, which makes it one of the oldest and most effective types of sedation in any medical field.
Before your child can be sedated, we’ll need to meet with you and your child. Dr. Raj or Dr. Engineer will perform an oral exam and take x-rays to determine the extent of their oral health issues, and whether or not sedation will be necessary for their treatment.
If your child is approved for sedation, you and your little one will come back as scheduled for their next appointment. Dr. Engineer or Dr. Raj will use a carefully-calculated dose of nitrous oxide to sedate your child. This is delivered through a comfortable nose mask, so no pills or needles are needed!
Nitrous oxide takes effect immediately. The laughing gas will make your child feel calm and relaxed during their appointment. This helps with anxiety and fear, and also allows Dr. Raj or Dr. Engineer to treat your child more quickly and efficiently. Laughing gas also has minimal side effects, and wears off within just a few minutes. After your child’s procedure, you and your little one can get back to your normal routines!
At My Kids Happy Teeth, we exclusively offer nitrous oxide (laughing gas) sedation. Laughing gas sedation is the fastest, simplest, and safest method of dental sedation. Laughing gas will make your child feel calm, relaxed, and a bit disconnected from events that happen around them. However, your little one will still be completely awake, aware of what’s happening, and responsive to commands. It only takes about five minutes to wear off, too.
If you think that your child needs deeper sedation such as oral conscious (pill-based) sedation or IV sedation, we're here to help, too. Based on your child’s oral exam, Dr. Engineer and Dr. Raj can determine if these types of sedation are needed. If so, we can refer you to another local specialist in Bakersfield so that your little one can get the care they need.
If your child’s cavity and tooth decay is ignored, nerve infection can result in an abscess and require removal of the tooth. You can prevent further issues from forming by scheduling an appointment today to treat your child’s tooth pain.
Based on your child’s oral exam, Dr. Engineer and Dr. Raj can determine if these types of sedation are needed.
Unfortunately, the answer is usually “no.” While some policies may cover sedation, most dental insurance policies do not. If you're not sure what your insurance covers, we recommend contacting your insurance company or consulting your policy documents.
However, nitrous oxide sedation at My Kids Happy Teeth is very affordable, and we offer flexible financing for most procedures. This means it’s easier to get the dental care your child needs, even if your family is on a tight budget.
Yes, oral dental sedation is safe for kids, but only if administered by a licensed dentist or anesthesiologist. Dentists recommend oral sedation for lengthy and complex procedures. The dentist will prescribe sedatives in pill or syrup form for the kids to take thirty minutes before the procedure. Once it kicks in, the sedative makes children feel calm and relaxed, thus reducing their anxiety. That way, dentists can proceed with treatments without a hitch.
But while oral sedation is completely safe, some kids may experience drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, and allergic reactions. The dentist will determine your kid's suitability for oral sedation.
Sedation is perfectly safe for your two-year-old in the correct dosages. Dentists recommend nitrous oxide (laughing gas) for babies and toddlers. This mild sedative works by displacing oxygen from the lungs, making patients feel calm and light-headed. The gas takes minutes to kick in and just as fast to wear off.
Dentists will conduct tests to determine how suitable your baby is for sedation. It’s not uncommon for your baby to be allergic to sedatives. Certain medical conditions also preclude the use of any form of dental sedation.
The go-to option for most dentists to put toddlers to sleep during dental procedures is nitrous oxide. The dentist will put a mask over the child’s nose and mouth before supplying a stream of nitrous oxide, which puts the child to sleep.
Once asleep, the dentist will switch to intravenous sedation by inserting the IV drip into the child’s arm. The IV drip maintains a constant supply of sedative directly into the bloodstream, ensuring the child remains asleep throughout the procedure.
Yes, nitrous oxide is safe for pediatric dentistry and is, in fact, recommended by most dentists for pediatric procedures. Nitrous oxide displaces oxygen from the lungs, making patients light-headed and calming their anxiety.
It’s also a non-invasive form of sedation since the kids only have to inhale the gas to feel the sedative effects within minutes. Aside from the quick onset, nitrous oxide leaves the body just as fast with no side effects. Unlike with other sedation techniques, children won’t feel groggy or drowsy after the procedure.
Nitrous oxide has little to no side effects if administered in the correct amounts. However, in excess, nitrous oxide can cause shivering, nausea, vomiting, and excessive sweating. It’s also common for some patients to experience hallucinations and sound distortion after nitrous oxide sedation.
Your child might also experience a loss of balance, weakness in the legs, and slight disorientation after the procedure. Regardless of the side effect, it should disappear once the body metabolizes the laughing gas and removes it from the body.
Laughing gas also has minimal side effects, and wears off within just a few minutes.
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