Sedation options for kids who need extra help
Dental anxiety is real, whether it comes from a rough past visit or sensitivity to sounds and sensations. We always start with the most conservative option, and we walk you through every choice first.
Our approach
We choose the most conservative treatment available and use non-invasive methods whenever we can. Most kids do great with a gentle pace, kid-sized words and a little extra time. Sometimes, though, a child needs more help to be treated safely and comfortably. We look at each case individually and only discuss sedation when it is truly needed.
Laughing gas (nitrous oxide)
Nitrous oxide is a safe, mild sedative breathed in through a small nose mask. It works almost immediately. Your child stays awake and responsive, just relaxed and content, and we can adjust the level throughout the visit. You are welcome at your child’s side the whole time.
The effect wears off within minutes once the mask comes off, so your child can get back to school, play and normal meals right away.
Good for
- Nervous or wiggly kids who need help settling in
- A strong gag reflex
- Longer visits, so the time passes easily
- Sensitivity to the sounds and sensations of dental work
General anesthesia and hospital dentistry
For some patients — very young children with a lot of treatment to do, children who cannot safely receive care in a typical office setting, those with certain medical conditions, and patients with special needs — we may recommend completing treatment under general anesthesia. Your child sleeps through the entire appointment, an anesthesia team monitors them the whole time, and every needed treatment is finished in a single visit.
It is only recommended when necessary, after a thorough exam and a look at how your child has done during visits with us, and you will see all the options beforehand.
How treatment under general anesthesia works, step by step →
Which option fits your child?
Laughing gas
- Where: right here in our office
- Your child is: awake, relaxed, able to talk to us
- Wears off: in minutes
- Best for: nervousness, gagging, short and medium visits
General anesthesia
- Where: an outpatient surgery setting with an anesthesia team
- Your child is: fully asleep
- Wears off: over the rest of the day
- Best for: extensive treatment, very young children, special needs, when the office is not safe enough
Questions parents ask
Is laughing gas safe for kids?
Nitrous oxide is one of the most widely used and studied forms of sedation in dentistry. It is always mixed with oxygen, we can turn it down or off at any moment, and it leaves the body within minutes of the mask coming off.
Will my child be asleep?
With laughing gas, no. Your child is awake, relaxed and can answer us the whole time. Under general anesthesia, yes — your child sleeps through the entire appointment and has no memory of it.
Can I stay with my child?
In our office, always. Parents are welcome at their child’s side for every visit, laughing gas included. For general anesthesia, what happens at the facility depends on its policies, and we will tell you exactly what to expect before the day.
Does my child have to be sedated?
No. Sedation is never the first option. Most of what we do happens with no sedation at all, and many kids who arrive nervous leave asking when they can come back. We only bring it up when it is the safest, kindest way to get the care done.
Think your child may need sedation?
Tell us before the appointment so we can plan a comfortable visit.