Sedation

Name: Kind Smiles Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry
Telephone: 949-561-1088

At KIND SMILES, it’s important to us that your child feels at ease throughout their treatment. Sometimes, sedation may be the best option for keeping them anxiety-free and safe during their procedure.

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When do you suggest sedation for dental procedures?

Dr. Gary has extensive experience with pediatric dental sedation, but he will only recommend it if he thinks your child could truly benefit from it. Some reasons he may recommend sedation include:

If your child is at a very young age
If your child has a lot of fear or anxiety at the dentist office
If your child has a short attention span and cannot sit through a procedure
If we need to complete extensive dental work
If special needs dentistry is required due to specific healthcare conditions

Types of sedation dentistry we offer

We offer more than one kind of sedation at our Irvine office, and Dr. Gary can help you decide which one is best for your child.

Nitrous oxide

Nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, is a mild sedative we can use for children who are anxious during dental treatment. Nitrous oxide won’t put your child to sleep, but it will make them feel more care-free and relaxed so we can treat them comfortably and safely.

We like to use nitrous oxide as our sedation options where possible because it is safe, easy to adjust, and quick to reverse. It is also non-allergenic.

Of course, there are a few children for whom nitrous oxide is not effective. If your child has severe anxiety, discomfort with a nasal mask, or nasal congestion, we may recommend another form of sedation.

IV sedation

IV sedation (or intravenous sedation) is the strongest sedation method we use for pediatric patients. It is used when other sedation options are not an option, such as with very young patients, or children with extreme anxiety or other special needs.

IV sedation is performed in our office, and your child will be “asleep” throughout the duration of their dental procedure. There are a few more risks involved with IV sedation, but Dr. Gary has specialized training with this sedation method. He can walk you through the pros and cons to see if it is right for your child.

If we do not move forward with IV sedation, it’s possible that your child will need multiple dental visits, or will need to be restrained during treatment for their safety, but this can be physically and emotionally traumatic for your child. Dr. Gary can help you better understand your options.