Sedation Dentistry
The unfamiliar sights and sounds of a dental office can be frightening for patients of all ages, including kids.
At Children’s Dental of Waltham in Waltham, MA, we believe that every child deserves gentle and compassionate care without fear.
That's why our dentists offer sedation dentistry, which induces relaxation using medications for a calmer, more comfortable experience.
Dental Anxiety Is Common among Children
3 Reasons to Consider Sedation Dentistry for a Pediatric Patient
Fearful or anxious children can become unnecessarily stressed during dental treatment, resulting in a negative experience for both the patient and the parent. Sedation dentistry with Dr. Yelena Gutnichenko or Dr. Carmen Brambila can:
Sedation induces feelings of calmness so your child remains comfortable during their dental care appointment. In many cases, your child will have little to no memory of the procedure, which helps prevent anxiety from worsening.
Anxious patients tend to move around more in the dental chair, which can make the dentist's work more difficult. Sedation helps reduce movement so your dentist can complete treatment more efficiently.
Certain procedures, such as dental extractions, require the use of local anesthesia. Sedation allows us to complete this step after your child is comfortable. This is particularly helpful if your child has a fear of needles.
How do I know if my child needs sedation for dental visits?
When to Consider Sedation Dentistry for Your Child
Children may struggle with dental anxiety for many different reasons. You may want to consider sedation if your child has:
A Strong Gag Reflex
Claustrophobia
Past Negative Dental Experiences
Fear of Injections
Difficulty Controlling Movements
The team at Children’s Dental of Waltham focuses exclusively on caring for kids. Our dentistry team knows how to explain dental treatments in easy-to-understand terms. We also know how to make the new experience fun and exciting, rather than scary.
What kinds of sedation are available in pediatric dentistry?
Types of Dental Sedation
Nitrous Oxide
For some dental procedures, we will simply also administer local anesthesia to numb the area. For others, we may recommend additional sedation such as nitrous oxide. Nitrous oxide (also called "laughing gas") is administered via inhalation through a nose piece. The effects are typically felt within five minutes. Your child will be deeply relaxed, though still completely awake. He or she may be a little giggly and talkative, as well. In addition to being fast-acting, nitrous oxide wears off quickly. As soon as we remove the mask and administer pure oxygen, the effects will start to dissipate. Nitrous oxide is considered a light form of conscious sedation. Thanks to its conservative nature, there are negligible risks involved, even for very young patients.
General Anesthesia
If your child has severe dental anxiety, we may recommend general anesthesia. The medication will be administered intravenously to help your child fall into a deep, sleep-like state. For these cases, our pediatric dentist, Dr. Brambila, will complete your child's dental care at Franciscan Children's Hospital in Brighton, MA, alongside a certified anesthesiologist. During your child's dental procedure, a strict protocol will be followed to ensure his or her safety and well-being. This includes monitoring vital signs such as heart rate, oxygen levels, blood pressure, and temperature. Upon waking, your child will be groggy for much of the day. Side effects from general anesthesia may include nausea, vomiting, fussiness, dizziness, or crying.
Here's why families trust our dentistry practice with their child's sedation...
Read Our 5-Star Reviews
Crystal Paolini
2019
Staff is awesome very friendly with my children and also caring. Kids and I feel safe with them and trust them very much. My daughter broker her tooth her half at dance and the Dr was able to fix it perfectly!!! She really is unbelievable at what she does. I highly recommend Children’s Dental Center of Waltham.
View on GoogleYana Khalina-Stackpole
2017
At Dr. Gutnichenko's practice we found the most "customer-centric", professional, compassionate and technologically advanced care for our daughter, who presented with multiple challenges (we have been to quite a few offices before). Our whole family moved to them as a result; we have been their clients for years now, so glad it is a Family practice. Highly recommended!
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