Pediatric Sedation Dentistry in Lawrenceville, GA

If visiting the dentist causes your child anxiety and fear, they certainly are not alone. Children of all ages have real phobias about visiting the dentist. It is for this reason that Apple Tree Pediatric Dentistry in Lawrenceville, GA offers sedation dentistry that will help your child to feel relaxed and calm when receiving dental treatment. During your child's initial consultation, board-certified pediatric dentist Dr. Jeni Kong will thoroughly review the various sedation dentistry options we offer and help you determine the best choice for your child's needs.

Pediatric sedation dentistry in Lawrenceville, GA at Apple Tree Pediatric Dentistry helps your child get the gentle dental care they need with a number of great benefits, including:

• Offers multiple sedation options
• Reduces anxiety and fear
• Keeps discomfort to a minimum
• Improves treatment quality
• Allows more involved procedures to be performed
• Allows multiple procedures to be performed
• Can allow children to have little to no memory of the treatment
• Helps improve overall oral health
• Safe and effective
• Cost-effective

Our sedation dentistry options include:

Nitrous oxide sedation, also known as laughing gas, is a common form of sedation that provides mild and manageable sedative effects. Nitrous oxide gas is administered through a small mask that fits over the nose and quickly induces a relaxed and giddy feeling in the patient. Once the gas is turned off, the effects subside within minutes and the patient returns to a normal state.

Oral-conscious sedation uses prescription medication to reduce stress and anxiety in patients prior to and while undergoing dental procedures. The medication is taken by the patient about an hour before the appointment time. While under oral-conscious sedation, the patient remains awake and able to respond to our instructions. The effects of oral sedation typically last a few hours and may cause the patient to feel groggy or sleepy during that time.

Hospital dentistry allows patients to be fully sedated by administering medication intravenously throughout the treatment process and in a hospital setting. This type of sedation method may be ideal for children who have special needs, medical or physical conditions, or require extensive treatment to restore their oral health. Dr. Jeni maintains hospital privileges at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta to better serve our patients who require deeper sedation to meet their needs.

If your child experiences fear or anxiety when visiting the dentist or at the idea of undergoing dental procedures, they are probably a good candidate for sedation dentistry. We offer different levels of sedation and choose these based on a variety of circumstances. During your child's consultation, Dr. Jeni may ask you questions regarding their medical history, dental history, and treatment concerns to determine which sedation option will be most effective.

What to expect during sedation dentistry will differ based on the option you have selected for your child. Nitrous oxide sedation temporarily calms an individual by putting a mask over the nose and mouth, which releases nitrous oxide gas. Our team closely monitors the amount of gas administered to your child to ensure the appropriate level is received before and throughout the procedure. Oral-conscious sedation is administered by having your child take an oral anti-anxiety medication about an hour before their appointment to help them remain calm prior to and during the procedure. With hospital dentistry, your child is eased into a fully sedated state from medicine administered through an IV before the procedure begins. Our team monitors your child's vitals throughout the entire procedure and until the sedation is no longer in effect.

Yes, pediatric sedation dentistry techniques are safe when administered by Dr. Jeni and the team at Apple Tree Pediatric Dentistry in Lawrenceville, GA. Before we recommend any sedation method for your child, we will thoroughly review your child’s medical history. If Dr. Jeni sees anything that would keep your child from being a good candidate for sedation dentistry or could cause side effects, we will not recommend it. It is also important to remember that sedation methods will be carefully monitored and are not general anesthesia. Your child may be sedated, but they will not be unconscious.

Based on the type of sedation selected for your child's procedure, insurance benefits and personal treatment costs may vary. Our knowledgeable team at Apple Tree Pediatric Dentistry will speak with your insurance company ahead of time to determine what portion is a covered benefit and what you might need to pay out-of-pocket. Our facility accepts various payment methods and can help you obtain medical financing.

Your child will regain their normal bearings around 20 — 30 minutes, even though they will never fully lose consciousness. You might expect a slight decrease in energy and activity for the rest of the day. In addition, your child might seem slightly disoriented or confused, but this sensation should decrease as the effects of the sedation wear off. If you notice any irregularities or any increase in odd behavior, please contact our Lawrenceville, GA office with any other questions.

Is pediatric sedation dentistry safe?
Yes, for the majority of healthy children with no preexisting conditions, pediatric sedation dentistry is considered generally very safe and effective. Before the procedure, Dr. Jeni will review your child’s medical history and current health to ensure sedation dentistry is safe for them.

Does pediatric sedation dentistry put the child to sleep?
Unless your child is undergoing hospital dentistry, sedation dentistry will not put them to sleep, but rather it will simply relax them. Some may fall asleep from the feeling of calm and relaxation, but the sedation itself does not put them to sleep.

Will my child feel any pain?
No, most children won’t feel any pain with sedation dentistry. Sedation dentistry works to reduce any fear or anxiety your child may have about their dental procedure but isn’t necessarily for pain (unless it is full sedation at a hospital). The tooth or teeth to be treated will be completely numbed with a local anesthetic to prevent your child from feeling any pain during the procedure.

How long is recovery from sedation dentistry?
Before initiating any treatment using sedation, Dr. Jeni will speak with you about what is to be expected following the procedure. In some cases, your child may need to refrain from physical activity for a certain period of time. After the procedure, it is advised that your child hydrate and rest. Your child may be fatigued for the remainder of the day, but these side effects should subside in about 24 hours.

How should parents prepare their child for a sedation dentistry appointment?
Parents should ensure their child follows any pre-appointment instructions, such as fasting guidelines. It's also helpful to explain to the child in simple terms what to expect, avoiding any mention of pain or discomfort. Bringing a favorite toy or blanket can provide comfort and ease anxiety on the day of the procedure.

How do dentists monitor a child’s vital signs during sedation?
Dentists use specialized equipment to continuously monitor the child’s heart rate, oxygen levels, blood pressure, and breathing throughout the procedure. This ensures the child's safety and allows the dental team to respond quickly to any changes. The monitoring equipment is noninvasive and typically does not cause any discomfort to the child.

Our goal is to provide safe, compassionate care for your children and enable them to achieve a healthy smile in a comfortable and peaceful way. By choosing sedation dentistry at Apple Tree Pediatric Dentistry, your child's procedure can be a positive and relaxing experience. Learn more about our sedation dentistry options by scheduling a consultation with Dr. Jeni today.