4 Commonly Asked Questions about Pediatric Sedation Dentistry

When you notice your child is anxious or even fearful before a dental visit, they may benefit from sedation dentistry. Sedation provides deep relaxation to ensure your child remains stress-free as the dentist works on them.

Besides dental fear or anxiety, sedation dental care can help your child if they have:

• A strong gag reflex
• Trouble staying still in a dental chair
• Special needs
• Complex dental issues that require lengthy treatment procedures
• Low pain tolerance

Your child can now look forward to dental visits with us. We are here to ensure they enjoy dental care and achieve the healthy, beautiful smile they deserve.

Is your child afraid of getting a filling or crown? Dentistry doesn’t have to be scary. Our office offers the following sedation dentistry options to ensure your child enjoys every minute in the dental chair.

• Nitrous oxide: This mild sedation is administered through a mask on your child’s mouth or nose. Nitrous oxide or laughing gas results in mild sedation but is powerful enough to relax your child. Laughing gas doesn’t put your child to sleep. Your child will be relaxed and pain-free but awake to communicate with our dental team. After treatment, the dentist will replace the nitrous with 100% oxygen to flush out the sedation effects from the body.
• IV sedation: This is ideal for patients with severe dental fear or undergoing complex dental procedures. We work with an anesthesiologist who helps us provide this service in the comfort of our office. IV sedation is administered directly to the bloodstream through an IV line on the arm. This sedation type is fast-acting. Depending on the level of sedation, your child may sleep but still breathe independently. However, we constantly monitor their vital signs (pulse rate, blood pressure, oxygen levels, etc.) for optimal safety and comfort.
• Hospital Dentistry: Dr. Groat is one of the very few dentists in our area with the capability of providing care in a hospital setting for patients who require this level of care. Dr. Groat has been on the medical staff at Torrance Memorial Medical Center since 2013.  General anesthesia allows for comprehensive treatment to be completed safely and comfortably.  

Sedation dentistry helps alleviate anxiety and ensures relaxation during dental procedures, but it’s essential to understand that it isn’t a painkiller. So, if the treatment requires anesthesia, the dentist will administer it for maximum comfort.