Dr. Preece and staff did an amazing job with my 5yo daughter’s dental work today. She has past history of dental anxiety and panicking during treatment at her previous dental office. We opted for oral sedation for her treatment and everything went smoothly and she was completely calm and at ease. You would have never known she used to be so scared of the dentist. Everyone is friendly, professional, and Dr. Preece has exceptional bedside manner. Thank you!
If I could give more stars I would! Dr. Preece really cares about his young patients. My daughter had to have a little extra sedation to complete her dental work. Dr. Preece made her and I feel so comfortable and let us know everything he was doing. Once the procedure was over, he didn’t just jump up and go to the next patient, he took the time to make sure she was ok. He helped her up out of the chair and walked with her towards the front of the office since she was still under the sedative. We will continue to come here.
So glad we found his dentist office 13 yrs ago. I’ve been taking all four of my kids to Dr. Preece and we love him. His staff is also great. One of the best things about his practice is that a parent is able to go into the treatment room with them. Everyone is so patient and kind. I have recommended him to a lot of my friends and family and they love him as well. I also recently had an appointment with the newest Dr. and he was very good as well.
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recognizes the proper usage of nitrous oxide as a safe, effective way to calm a child’s fear of visiting the dentist while also enhancing effective communication. This type of gas is inhaled through a nicely scented, comfortable mask that’s placed over the nose. It allows your child to feel calm and relaxed during their appointment. Once the appointment is over and after a couple of minutes of regular air, your child will feel normal and ready to go home or back to school.
Nitrous oxide is known to be a safe option for young patients because of its mild yet fast-acting effects. However, it is important that before any type of sedation is provided, Dr. Preece or Dr. Santillan meet with your child to discuss their medical history, and the reason nitrous oxide is being suggested.
Generally, this method of sedation can be helpful if your child has:
If your child is dealing with sinus congestion, has some sort of respiratory illness, or is taking certain medications, we may recommend holding off on treatment until these issues clear up. If it is the medicine they’re taking that could interfere with sedation, we might suggest an alternative technique or solution to ensure their safety and comfort.
The process of administering nitrous oxide is quite simple. Our dental team will begin by placing a nasal mask over your child’s nose so that it remains covered throughout treatment. Once the mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen is turned on, we will instruct them to inhale. In just minutes, the effects will start to kick in, leaving them to feel more relaxed and even slightly euphoric. They may even begin to giggle (hence the popular term “laughing gas” as nitrous oxide is more commonly known).
The use of this type of sedation will help dull your child’s senses so that they feel no discomfort or fear during their visit. This can be extremely helpful for those who previously experienced dental trauma at another practice.
After treatment is complete, our team will turn off the gas and remove the mask. Within minutes of breathing pure oxygen, your child will feel like their normal self. This is one of the added benefits of nitrous oxide is that it has no lingering side effects.
We will likely have your child stay in the treatment chair for a few minutes to ensure they feel fine after the mask is removed, but they should be free to resume normal activity after leaving our office.
If there are any aftercare instructions for the treatment they received, our team will make sure to provide them so that your child heals without issue.
Oral conscious sedation is an excellent option for children with a high level of anxiety that may prevent good coping skills, those who need an extensive dental treatment, and very young children who may not be able to cooperate during an appointment. It can also be helpful for patients with special needs. At The Dental Specialists, we determine the dosage by your child’s weight and monitor their vitals during their entire visit.
Oral conscious sedation causes drowsiness, but your child will remain awake with this option. Once their appointment is over, they will need to remain in the office until their dentist feels it is safe for them to go home. Once discharged, they will need to relax for the remainder of the day to allow the effects of the sedative continue to wear off over the next few hours.
Oral conscious sedation is sedation via a pill prescribed by your child’s dentist and picked up before you arrive at their appointment. Because it is in pill form, it requires no needles or face mask, and is typically recommended for children who have nervousness, anxiety, fear, a weak gag reflex, or who have trouble sitting still for a dental treatment.
Typically, your child’s dentist will prescribe one pill that they’ll take when they arrive at our office, or just before their appointment. The effects are usually long-lasting, and usually take effect within about 15 minutes, depending on the sedative used.
The effects of oral sedatives will linger throughout your child’s entire appointment. Once they kick in, the patient will feel a deep sense of calm and relaxation. Many patients don’t even remember their appointment after the effects wear off, which can be beneficial for some.
Your child’s dental team will continue to monitor their vitals throughout the entire treatment to ensure they are safe at all times. They will still be conscious, so they will be able to respond to instructions, but they will remain in a relaxed state throughout the entire appointment.
Oral conscious sedation is an excellent option for children who:
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Call or fill out our form to book your child's appointment.
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We'll gently examine your child's teeth and discuss their oral health needs.
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We'll create a customized plan to keep your child's smile healthy and strong.
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Experience a supportive, stress-free environment every step of the way.
For children with special care needs who have extensive oral healthcare needs, or children who need more invasive dental procedures, we may recommend IV sedation. In this case, we gently inject a sedative, and your child will soon feel completely relaxed without falling asleep throughout the duration of their treatment. If you and your child opt for this sedation method, it is best to take them home afterward to rest while the rest of the sedative wears off. Click on the button below to learn more about IV sedation and how it can benefit your child.
IV sedation is administered directly into the bloodstream. This allows your child to feel the effects of the sedative right away after it has been administered. They will still be awake during the procedure, but they probably won’t remember much afterward because they will be so relaxed. During their treatment, we will keep a close eye on your child’s vital signs to ensure that they are perfectly safe. The effects of IV sedation will linger for a few hours, so they should stay home from school and extracurricular activities for the rest of the day.
IV sedation is usually recommended and used for kids who need to undergo longer, complex procedures so they remain comfortable for that duration. It is also a great option for kids who have special needs and those who need multiple treatments done at once. Before your child’s treatment, we will discuss their medical history, medications, and other factors to rule out any potential complications that could arise.
Here are some of the various benefits that IV sedation can provide for children:
Many kids experience anxiety or distress when it comes to dental visits, and although dental sedation can potentially help, it’s natural to want to ensure that it won’t put your child’s health at risk. Thankfully, dental sedation is considered safe for most people, including children, as long as a trained professional administers it.
Before proceeding, our dedicated team in Garland will update your family’s medical history to include any more recent diagnoses, procedures, prescription medications, or new supplements that your child might be taking regularly. This helps us avoid doing anything that might adversely affect their general well-being.
Most dental sedatives don’t render patients unconscious; instead, they’re usually intended to help them feel calm and comfortable but awake enough to respond to their provider’s questions or instructions. It’s natural to wonder whether your child will recall the details of their procedure afterwards, but in many cases, these medications cause a temporary amnesia that makes it difficult to remember.
Many parents of kids with more severe dental anxiety consider this short-term memory loss to be another benefit of sedation because it can help their child feel less anxious about future visits.
Our team in Garland offers three types of medication: nitrous oxide (laughing gas), oral conscious (in pill form), and IV sedation. Laughing gas typically induces a sense of relaxation or euphoria, and your child might experience lightheadedness or tingling in their limbs.
Meanwhile, oral conscious medications tend to produce a deeper sense of calm as well as a weighted sensation that can make your child feel drowsy enough that they naturally doze off during their procedure. IV sedation produces similar feelings, but more intensely.
Dental insurance can often be a simple and effective way to reduce your out-of-pocket expenses for dental services for your family. However, these plans tend to categorize sedatives as a luxury rather than a necessity and often don’t cover the cost. With that said, there may be exceptions, like if your child has a disability or health condition that makes it impossible for them to receive dental care without being medicated.
Every plan is slightly different, so it’s worth checking the details of your policy to understand more about what’s included. If you’re struggling to find the information or need help with paperwork or claims, please don’t hesitate to let us know! Our friendly office staff are familiar with different policies and can help you maximize your family’s available benefits.
Dr. Lucely Santillan is a pediatric dentist in Garland dedicated to helping children achieve healthy smiles. Inspired to pursue dentistry through volunteer work with Texas Mission of Mercy, she earned her degree from Texas A&M College of Dentistry and completed specialized training in pediatric dentistry and special needs care. She also serves as a part-time Clinical Assistant Professor, is fluent in Spanish, and enjoys spending time with family, traveling, cooking, and exploring new restaurants.
