SEDATION DENTIST FOR KIDS BAKERSFIELD
Stress-Free Appointments Made Possible with Added Comfort
Whether it’s dental anxiety, a short attention span, or the inability to sit still for prolonged periods, children often need a bit of extra help when visiting the dentist’s office. Fortunately, our Purdy Pediatric Dentistry team can create comfortable and calming experiences with the help of sedation dentistry for kids in Bakersfield. Our dentists possess the knowledge and training to provide nitrous oxide and oral conscious sedation in-house so that your little one will remain relaxed during their appointment. If you think your child might benefit from this type of treatment, make sure to mention it when calling to schedule an appointment.
Why Choose Purdy Pediatric Dentistry for Children’s Sedation Dentistry?
- Two Types of Safe Dental Sedation for Kids Available
- Dentists Prioritize Patient Comfort to Ensure Positive Experience
- Dental Team's First Priority is Safety
Nitrous Oxide Sedation
Nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, as it’s more widely known, is a safe and effective solution that can help children have the calm, positive, and comfortable experience they deserve at our office. If you suspect that your child could benefit from this form of sedation dentistry, then schedule a consultation with us. That way, we can review their dental and medical history to determine if they are a good candidate. In the meantime, you can read on to learn more.
Who is a Good Candidate for Nitrous Oxide?
Dental nitrous oxide in Bakersfield can help children who struggle with a fear of needles, mild to moderate dental anxiety, or a sensitive gag reflex. This calming solution is also helpful for patients who need more extensive care, like multiple tooth extractions. With that said, it’s not recommended for everyone. For example, if your child is allergic or has a breathing condition, like asthma, then nitrous oxide is not recommended.
How Does Nitrous Oxide Work?
Once your child settles comfortably into the treatment chair, we will place a small nasal mask over their nose and instruct them to breathe normally. Since it only takes a few minutes for the effects to kick in, your child’s anxiety will dissipate quickly, allowing them to relax while we provide the necessary dental care.
Note: Nitrous oxide is not designed to render your child unconscious but instead will help them remain calm and comfortable. As a result, they can still respond to the cues we give them and ask any questions that they have. If needed, we can even adjust the flow of nitrous oxide to ensure their experience in the treatment chair is positive from start to finish.
Aftercare for Nitrous Oxide
When we’re done providing the preventive, restorative, or cosmetic dentistry needed, we will let your child know and switch off the nitrous oxide. Within a matter of minutes, the effects will dissipate. As a result, you don’t have to worry about lingering grogginess and drowsiness. Instead, they can resume their usual routine immediately following their appointment. Just make sure that they follow any aftercare instructions we provide pertaining to the treatment they received, like not using a straw, sticking to extremely soft foods, or rinsing with warm saltwater periodically.
Oral Conscious Sedation
If your child is struggling with a moderate form of dental anxiety or requires multiple treatments to be administered during one appointment, we may suggest oral conscious sedation. If so, we will give a liquid medication when they first arrive for their appointment and will wait for an appropriate amount of time, so your child will feel more comfortable once in the dentist's chair. Throughout the appointment, they will remain conscious; however, they may doze off. Once finished, they may be unable to recall much from their visit and will need to rest for the remainder of the day.
General Anesthesia
General anesthesia is a great way to calm young patients down and allow them to sleep throughout their appointment, creating a more positive dental experience. Our on-staff board-certified dental anesthesiologist, Dr. Kevork, will ensure the safety and comfort of your child from the start of treatment until the end. This allows our dentists to complete our work more efficiently while your child remains fully at ease during their visit.