Sedation Dentistry

At Big Sky Pediatric Dentistry, we use 3 different kinds of sedation methods: nitrous oxide, conscious sedation, and outpatient general anesthesia.

Nitrous Oxide

Commonly known as “laughing gas,” nitrous oxide is an oxygen/nitrogen blend that allows children to relax without putting them to sleep. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recognizes nitrous oxide as a safe, effective technique for treating children’s dental needs. It’s a mild gas, easily taken, non-addictive, and it leaves the body quickly. When your child inhales nitrous oxide, they remain fully conscious and maintain all of their natural reflexes.

Prior to your appointment:

• Please inform us of any change to your child’s health and/or medical condition.
• Tell us about any respiratory condition that makes breathing through the nose difficult for your child. It may limit the effectiveness of the nitrous oxide/oxygen.
• Let us know if your child is taking any medication on the day of the appointment.

Conscious Sedation

Some children need a little extra help making it through their dental appointment. If you’ve got an apprehensive child, a very young child, or a special needs child, we might recommend that they undergo conscious sedation.

Conscious sedation will calm your child and reduce any anxiety surrounding dental treatments. They might become drowsy or even fall asleep, but they’ll never lose consciousness.

There are a few different medications we use to induce conscious sedation. After consulting with you, we’ll go with whichever we agree is best suited for your child’s overall health and dental treatment plan.

If you’re child is scheduled to receive conscious sedation, we ask that you:

• Please notify us of any change in your child’s health and/or medical condition. Do not bring your child for treatment if they have a fever, ear infection or cold. Should your child become ill, contact us to see if it is necessary to postpone the appointment.
• Inform the doctor of any prescriptions that your child is currently taking and any drug reactions or change in medical history.
• Please dress your child in loose fitting, comfortable clothing.
• Please make sure that your child goes to the bathroom immediately prior to arriving at the office.
• Make sure your child does not have solid food for at least 6 hours prior to their sedation appointment, and should only consume clear liquids for up to 4 hours before the appointment.
• Remain at the office during the complete procedure.
• Please watch your child closely while the medication is taking effect. Do not leave them unattended.

After the sedation appointment:

• Your child will be drowsy and will need to be monitored very closely. Keep your child away from areas of potential harm.
• If your child wants to sleep, place them on their side with their chin up. Wake your child every hour and encourage them to have something to drink in order to prevent dehydration.
• At first, it is best to give your child sips of clear liquids to prevent nausea.
• Your child's first meal should be light and easily digestible.
• If your child vomits, help them bend over and turn their head to the side to insure that they do not inhale the vomit.
• Because we use local anesthetic to numb your child’s mouth during the procedure, your child may have the tendency to bite or chew their lips, cheeks, and/or tongue and/or rub and scratch their face after treatment. Please observe your child carefully to prevent any injury to these areas.
• Please call our office for any questions or concerns that you might have.

Outpatient General Anesthesia

If nitrous oxide and conscious sedation have both failed, we might recommend outpatient general anaesthesia for your child. With it, the child falls completely asleep, the same as if they were having tonsils removed or a hernia repaired. Outpatient general anesthesia is performed in a hospital or outpatient setting only.

If your child is scheduled to receive conscious sedation, we ask that you:

• Please notify us of any change in your child’s health. Do not bring your child for treatment with a fever, ear infection or cold. Should your child become ill, contact us to see if it is necessary to postpone the appointment.
• Please inform the doctor of any prescriptions that your child is currently taking and any drug reactions and/or change in medical history.
• Please dress your child in loose fitting, comfortable clothing.
• Make sure your child does not have milk or solid food after midnight prior to the scheduled procedure, and ONLY clear liquids like water, apple juice, or Gatorade for up to 6 hours prior to the appointment.
• Remain at the hospital or surgical site waiting room during the complete procedure.

After the appointment:

• Your child will be drowsy and will need to be monitored very closely. Keep your child away from areas of potential harm.
• If your child wants to sleep, place them on their side with their chin up. Wake your child every hour and encourage them to have something to drink in order to prevent dehydration. At first it is best to give your child sips of clear liquids to prevent nausea.
• Your child's first meal should be light and easily digestible.
• If your child vomits, help them bend over and turn their head to the side to insure that they do not inhale the vomit.
• Prior to leaving the hospital/outpatient center, you will be given a detailed list of "Post-Op Instructions" and an emergency contact number if needed.