Sedation Dentistry
Whatever it takes to put kids at ease, you’ll find it at Ashburn Children’s Dentistry! Right from our kid-friendly environment to child-friendly language and also the ability to cozy up with pillows and blankets during treatment. For our anxious patients we have “laughing gas” available to help relax them during treatment. We even have an anesthesiologist for really fearful patients and those who require extensive work under IV sedation.
Laughing Gas
Nitrous oxide, more commonly known as laughing gas, is often used to provide conscious sedation during a dental visit. The gas is administered with a mixture of oxygen and has a calming effect that helps phobic or anxious patients relax during their dental treatment. Because it is a mild sedative, patients are still conscious and can talk to their dentist during their visit. After treatment, the nitrous is turned off and oxygen is administered for 5 to 10 minutes to help flush any remaining nitrous. The effects wear off almost immediately. Nitrous oxide rarely has side effects, although some patients may experience minor nausea and constipation.
Intravenous (IV) Sedation
IV sedation is recommended for extensive treatment, lack of cooperation due to young age or sometimes children with special needs. A board-certified M.D. Anesthesiologist provides IV Sedation in our office and monitors your child from start to finish and during recovery. During IV sedation your child will be asleep and will not remember the procedures that have taken place. This ensures that they safely receive the treatment they need all at once and that they do not grow to be afraid of going to the dentist. The anesthesiologist will talk with you prior to the visit to provide the pre- and post-anesthesia instructions and answer any questions you may have.
General Anesthesia
Ashburn Children's Dentistry is proud to be the only area pediatric dental practice to offer hospital dentistry services at Children's Hospital in Washington, DC. These services are best for patients who cannot be treated in a dental office, but can often be treated in a hospital setting. For children that are not eligible for IV sedation due to significant medical history, we are now able to offer the option of hospital dentistry for treatment using General Anesthesia. If children are referred by other pediatric dentists, they are seen in our office for a consultation so that we can develop a treatment plan, determine the amount of time needed in the Operating Room and review instructions for the day of the surgery. Treatment is coordinated with the pediatric anesthesiologists at Children’s Hospital and is usually completed in one visit as an outpatient procedure.
