Pediatric Dental Treatment

Every child deserves a beautiful, healthy smile, and at Drs. Davalos & Jones, our mission is to help our patients achieve one. We’re proud to offer a wide range of pediatric dental treatments and orthodontics to kids throughout North Florida and South Georgia and the surrounding areas, and we take a holistic approach geared towards creating the best smile in the long term. Our doctors and pediatric dental specialists know what it takes to help our patients feel comfortable during visits, but sometimes, dental anxiety can be a little too much to handle – and in those cases, we’re proud to offer sedation dentistry as a safe, effective way to ensure a comfortable treatment experience.

Do you still have questions about sedation dentistry? We’re here to help. Take a look at the FAQ below to get answers to the most common questions about sedation dentistry.

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What is Sedation Dentistry?

Broadly speaking, sedation dentistry refers to the practice of using sedatives to keep patients comfortable during treatment. This can range from using nitrous oxide (also called laughing gas) to ease discomfort to using general anesthesia during complex or surgical procedures.

Does My Child Need Sedation Dentistry?

Not all patients and procedures require the use of sedation dentistry, but it’s a helpful tool in many cases. Some procedures have a surgical component or require a more complex, lengthy operation, so we may use sedation to minimize discomfort and make the process easier on patients during long or involved procedures. However, we may also use sedation dentistry for purely comfort-related reasons: if a child has severe dental anxiety, an overactive gag reflex, or special needs, we can use laughing gas or conscious oral sedation to help the child relax and stay comfortable during treatment while still remaining conscious and lucid.

Is Sedation Dentistry Safe?

Yes. Both the American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentists have endorsed sedation dentistry as a safe, effective way to keep children comfortable during dental treatment.

Will My Child Feel Any Pain?

Your child will be comfortably sleeping so your child feels little to no pain or discomfort. Post operatively we will discuss pain control. Every child is different and every treatment plan is different. Depending on the extensiveness of the treatment plan your child may need additional medication to minimize discomfort.

How Long Do The Sedatives Last?

Effects will vary depending on the type of sedation used. Nitrous oxide wears off within a few minutes after we remove the mask, so your child will return to their normal state almost immediately after treatment. Oral sedatives usually last a couple of hours, and your child will gradually return to their normal energy levels. Intravenous (IV) and General anesthesia wears off shortly after we finish the procedure, but your child may feel a little groggy for a while after treatment.