Helping Little Ones Feel Comfortable in the Treatment Chair
Does your child experience general anxiety or heightened sensitivity that makes it difficult for them to comfortably visit their dentist in Hamilton? Hamilton Pediatric Dental Care offers in-house sedation dentistry for children in our Hamilton, ON dental office as well as hospital anesthesia at McMaster Children’s Hospital to help them have a non-traumatic and stress-free experience, all while keeping up with their oral health. Our team will monitor them while they’re under sedation, and you can rest-assured that they’re in highly trained and capable hands.
Why Choose Hamilton Pediatric Dental Care
for Sedation Dentistry?
Rullo is a Board-Certified Pediatric Dentist
Dental Sedation That’s Safe for Children
Local Hospital Anesthesia at McMaster Children’s Hospital
Oral Conscious Sedation
Oral conscious sedation is a simple and highly effective calming method that we offer to children who have more moderate to severe dental phobia, anxiety, or sensitivities to the sights, sounds, and smells of our dental office. Before their appointment, we’ll have them take a single pill that will help them feel relaxed and calm by the time they arrive. The effects of oral conscious sedation last well beyond the length of their appointment, so we’ll provide you with some tips to take care of them afterward!
What Is Oral Conscious Sedation?
Oral conscious sedation does not involve the use of any needles or masks. Instead, all your child has to do is swallow a prescription sedative in pill form shortly before their treatment is scheduled to begin. Some of the medications that may be used for this purpose include Valium, Ativan, and Halcion. Dosages are always adjusted according to a patient’s age.
The sedation starts to kick-in within 15 minutes or so, and the effects can last for several hours.
How Does Oral Conscious Sedation Work?
Oral conscious sedation can be powerful, so your child might feel drowsy. They could even drift off to sleep. However, they will not be totally unconscious; it should remain easy to arouse them with gentle stimuli. They should enjoy a smooth treatment experience, and they might not even remember anything about it after the sedation wears off. Because sedation can last for several hours, you should make sure that your child gets plenty of rest after their appointment. They should also avoid any types of play that come with a risk of injury.
Is Your Child a Good Candidate for Oral Conscious Sedation?
Your child might be a suitable candidate for oral conscious sedation if:
They struggle with moderate to severe dental anxiety/fear.
They have a sensitive gag reflex.
They are not easily numbed by local anesthesia.
They need to undergo complex or extensive treatment.
They are special needs and have conditions that make it difficult for them to undergo dental treatment.
They do not have any medical conditions that would make sedation overly risky for them (our team will perform a thorough screening before recommending sedation).
Nitrous Oxide Sedation
Nitrous oxide, also called laughing gas, is a colorless and sweet-smelling gas that can be a great way to alleviate your child’s dental anxiety and help them sit calmly through a necessary oral care procedure. This sedation treatment has been used to make dental procedures a little easier for patients for almost two centuries, and it is remarkable for its safety and lack of lasting side effects. Here’s a brief guide to how Dr. Rullo may be able to use nitrous oxide sedation to help your family enjoy more pleasant dental visits at our Hamilton office.
Who is a Good Candidate for Nitrous Oxide?
Nitrous oxide is perfectly safe for almost all children and adults, and it may be especially suitable for patients with issues like:
Apprehension about needles, as nitrous oxide is administered through a nose mask attached to a hose without any sharp objects.
Difficulty sitting calmly in the dentist’s chair, as nitrous oxide induces a temporary sense of relaxation and well-being.
Sensitive teeth, as laughing gas raises the patient’s threshold of discomfort.
An especially strong gag reflex, as nitrous oxide can reduce the chances of this reaction interfering with the procedure.
Conditions such as autism or anxiety that make patients more vulnerable to overstimulation in the dental office.
Trouble being anesthetized by other methods.
However, patients with congested sinuses or respiratory illnesses or who are taking certain medications may not be good candidates for nitrous oxide.
How Does Nitrous Oxide Work?
Patients receiving nitrous oxide begin this sedation treatment before their dental procedure begins. The gas is administered through a nose mask attached to a hose, and its effects kick in within minutes. The patient will experience a sense of calmness and well-being, and they may also feel a tingling sensation in their arms and legs. Some patients may also develop a temporary case of giggles during treatment, which gives this sedative the nickname of laughing gas. While there are no serious known side effects of this gas, we will monitor your child while they receive this sedative to ensure their safety. Nitrous oxide is eliminated from the body within fifteen minutes after the patient stops receiving it, and they can expect to feel no lingering effects afterward.
Aftercare for Nitrous Oxide
One of the major benefits of nitrous oxide is that its effects do not last long after the treatment ceases. While your child will probably need to wait a few minutes in the dental office while the laughing gas wears off, they will be ready to return to school immediately afterward. However, it’s always important to adhere to Dr. Rullo’s aftercare instructions for the dental procedure your child received, as they may need to begin taking prescribed medication soon afterward to ensure that they stay comfortable while recovering.
Hospital Based General Anesthesia
In addition to our in-house dental sedation, we also offer hospital anesthesia for little ones with severe cases of dental phobia or who are getting lengthy or more invasive treatments. We partner with McMaster Children’s Hospital to offer this service safely to our patients from facilities that are well-equipped to accommodate them.
Children’s Sedation Dentistry FAQs
Is sedation dentistry safe for kids?
Children’s dental sedation in Hamilton is an excellent resource to help your child feel more comfortable visiting the dentist by reducing their anxiety both presently and later in life.
Dr. Michael Rullo is a board-certified pediatric dental specialist and has completed ample training on safe sedation protocols for children of all ages. He offers safe and effective dental sedation both in-office, like oral conscious and nitrous oxide sedation, and at McMaster Children’s Hospital.
As a parent, we understand that you have countless questions and concerns, and our team at Hamilton Pediatric Dental Care welcomes them!
Will my child remember anything with dental sedation?
While oral conscious and nitrous oxide sedation will allow your child to remain completely conscious and responsive during their appointments, it’s likely that they won’t remember much, if anything at all, about their treatment. Oftentimes, short-term memory loss is a common side-effect of these methods of sedation. If your child receives general anesthesia, they’ll be completely unconscious and won’t remember any details of their procedure.
Is sedation dentistry worth it for my child?
If your child has sever anxiety or fear surrounding visiting the dentist, or they require more extensive dental treatment, sedation dentistry is absolutely worth it! It has the ability to minimize their stress, improve their overall comfortability, and give them a chance to form a positive relationship with visiting the pediatric dentist
Will my child feel any pain with dental sedation?
In addition to Dr. Rullo and our team making sure that your child remains comfortable throughout their entire visit by numbing any areas of their mouth we’ll be working on. Dental sedation can also help suppress these senses your child may experience, allowing them to register more as pressure than outright discomfort. If your child is receiving general anesthesia, they won’t feel any pain during their procedure, as they’ll remain completely unconscious.
Will dental sedation make my child sick?
While it’s possible that your child may feel a little nauseous after oral conscious and nitrous oxide sedation, it’s rare that children get sick. However, every child can react differently to the medication. Because oral conscious sedation has effects that linger for a longer period of time, there is a slightly higher risk of your child feeling nauseous. If at any point you are concerned or have any questions, never hesitate to contact our office.
