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Advantages of Pediatric Oral Sedation

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The best part about oral sedation for dental treatment is that it has few side effects.

Sedation dentistry is one of the best tools that pediatric dentists have at their disposal. For kids who are very anxious and either don’t want to open their mouths or can’t sit still when required, oral sedation is an excellent and low-risk option. The best part about oral sedation is that it differs from IV and other forms of sedation because your child is awake the entire time.

Pediatric Oral Sedation
I came here with my 18 year old daughter who has an immense fear of Doctors and Dentist , The kindness and understanding without any judgement we received from Dr.Thom was just unbelievable. The work he did on my daughter was life changing for her . I would recommend him to anyone . Just amazing, kind talented Doctor.
We met Dr. Shawn in Sept 2023 and in December, he removed our adult nonverbal son's wisdom teeth. Not gonna hold you, general anesthesia is billed incrementally (by the minute/quarter-hour) and is a heavy financial investment. I love this clinic because it really is a safe space for special needs families. There's a huge calm that accompanies knowing your dependent person is getting healthy. Dr. Shawn is exceptional. We drove 6 hours to get here so we'll choose a local practice for routine sedation cleanings down the road. I hope to see more neurodivergent acceptance built locally in our state's dentistry like this team has here. Meanwhile we are so grateful for this practice and grateful our son was in Dr. Shawn's care.
Dr. Thoms and Robin are excellent in their care, concern, and support. Dr. Thoms explains everything and takes his time. If I have questions or concerns, he is easy to talk to and listens well.Robin is right there by my side throughout procedures. Her technical skills and professionalism are impressive. She is terrific!
Individualized care, expertise in general anesthesia, and attention to detail are why we keep returning for our son.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words and continued trust in our team! We’re grateful to be part of your family’s care and truly appreciate your confidence in us.
Omg!! This place is Amazing! The people who work here are so very nice and understanding. I love this team
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your kind words! We truly appreciate your support and are grateful to have such wonderful patients.

Few Side Effects

The best part about oral sedation is that it has very few side effects. Dizziness, headache, nausea, and sometimes mouth dryness are about as complex as symptoms get for some children. As with any medication, an allergic reaction may occur, but oral sedation is a nearly side-effect-free alternative to other dental sedation methods.

Oral sedation usually lasts long enough to get through simple procedures. Once the medication wears off, your child will be ready to go home.

Safe and Problem-Free

Even though oral sedation is, for most children, problem-free, your pediatric dentist will be trained to know what signs to look for to spot trouble. Throughout the procedure, your child will be closely watched for any signs of issues.

The most common medications for children are Chloral Hydrate, Triclofos Sodium, and Midazolam. The medications are just enough to take the edge off and allow your little one to sleep but not enough to cause genuine concern.

There is no such thing as sedation that doesn’t come with any side effects or risks, but oral sedation for kids is about as safe as possible. Except for rare allergic reactions, your child will be comfortable throughout their procedure and ready to go home without any negative recollection of their dental procedure.

Oral Sedation for Your Child

At The Dental Anesthesia Center, we work hard to make you feel at ease by providing exceptional patient care in a relaxed, convenient atmosphere. We believe patients should have sufficient information to make educated decisions about their oral health, treatment options, and choice of sedation dentists in St. Louis.

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The first two board-certified Dentist Anesthesiologists in the state of Missouri.

Updated: December 2, 2025

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