We are excited to announce that our office is now open with a limited schedule for all treatments and procedures, and that we’re taking additional special measures to ensure the health and safety of our patients and team members.
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We are excited to announce that our office is now open with a limited schedule for all treatments and procedures, and that we’re taking additional special measures to ensure the health and safety of our patients and team members.
read morePediatric sedation dentistry is one of our specialties at Sea of Smiles Pediatric Dentistry. Our team is always here to help your little ones feel more comfortable as they get the dental care they need. But you may have questions about sedation dentistry, and what side effects you can expect your kiddo to experience after their appointment. In this blog, we’ll get into all of the details.
Nitrous oxide, also called “laughing gas” is usually the best method of sedation for kids. This is because it has relatively mild effects during treatment, yet still keeps kids feeling calm and safe during their procedure. Its sedative effects also wear off after about five minutes, so you and your little one can get back to your normal schedules right away.
However, nitrous oxide can have some side effects after it wears off. After their procedure, your child may feel a bit confused and mixed up, and not be too aware of what’s going on around them. They may also have a headache or feel tired and fatigued. Your child may also experience some shivering after treatment, though this is more rare.
Nitrous oxide can also make your child’s stomach upset, and they may even throw up if they are very nauseated. To help prevent nausea and vomiting, we recommend avoiding heavy meals for a few hours before their procedure at Sea of Smiles. After their appointment, you can feed your child based on their dentist’s instructions. We recommend bland, easy-to-digest foods like crackers and applesauce, since these foods will help settle their stomach.
Oral conscious sedation and IV sedation use the same type of drugs. In oral sedation, your child will take a pill or drink a liquid containing the drug, and in IV sedation, the drug is delivered into their veins directly. This means that the side effects for both methods are similar, though IV sedation may have stronger after effects.
After your child’s procedure is done, we’ll monitor their vital signs and keep an eye on them for a little while at Sea of Smiles. This is just a precaution to make sure they recover from sedation properly. Once we’re sure everything looks good, we’ll send you and your little one home.
Common side effects of oral conscious and IV sedation include confusion, grogginess, amnesia (loss of memory) about the procedure, headaches, and nausea. Your child may also have slow reflexes, feel drowsy, and fall asleep easily. Most children will usually experience side effects for just a couple of hours after treatment, but some kids may have lingering side effects for up to 24 hours.
No matter whether they're getting nitrous oxide sedation for a filling, or oral conscious or IV sedation for a more complex dental procedure, the team at Sea of Smiles Pediatric Dentistry is dedicated to the safety and comfort of your kids. Our team of pediatric dentists can ensure your child is sedated safely and recovers quickly.
So don’t wait. If you’re interested in sedation dentistry for kids in Yardley, Bensalem, Warrington, or Glenside, Sea of Smiles is here for you. Contact us now to get in touch and schedule a consultation for your child today.
