Sedating a child for a dental procedure is normally very safe, but it’s important for parents to prepare their child for sedation.
Safety is always a parent’s top concern when it comes to protecting their child. This is especially true with regard to dental sedation. For children who are autistic or who are extremely young or nervous, a dentist may recommend sedation for dental procedures. Sedating a child is normally very safe, and there are things that parents can do to reduce the risks and stress levels for their child before and after treatment.
Our adult daughter has cerebral palsy and requires being fully sedated when having anything done. The DAC was such a positive experience. Dr Hoffmann and his staff were kind and did great explaining things. As a mom, I had a lot of questions about how certain things would be done as usually she’s in her chair when getting examined at her local dentist and they had everything under control including transferring from her chair to the dentist chair and keeping her secured in the dentist chair as well as keeping her neck and legs comfortable. Many thanks to them!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your kind words. We’re grateful for your trust and happy to hear that you had such a positive experience with our team. Our goal is always to provide compassionate, attentive care in a safe and comfortable environment. We truly appreciate you taking the time to share your experience.
TWENTY YEARS! That is how long our special needs son has been seeing Dr Hoffman and his dedicated team! Our son suffers from an intellectual disability, is non-verbal, and is unable to cooperate for dental cleaning, x-rays, or other routine dental work. He requires general anesthesia. It is such a blessing to avoid a hospital setting just for dental work.
The team is always well staffed, friendly, personable and very professional. Every single year we have been supported by a deeply caring team who are dedicated to patients with a very wide range of disabilities and needs. They have shared useful dental advice and tools (3 sided toothbrushes, blocks to hold open their mouth for daily at-home care, etc.) which improved our son’s daily dental care. We always receive a call back the day after to check his recovery-even on weekends!
Highly recommended and so appreciative to have this team supporting our ever long road of raising a special needs son.
Response from the owner:Wow — thank you for sharing such a heartfelt review! We are so grateful for your trust and for allowing our team to be part of your family’s journey over the years. It means so much to us to know that our care and support have made a difference. We truly appreciate your kind words and recommendation!
We've been coming to Dr.Hoffman for twenty years. There's a reason we keep coming back! He's great. His staff is great. He's double boarded as an MD (Anesthesia) and DDS!!! Our son with special needs needs sedation for even a cleaning. You get what you pay for. He's expensive and... we know he's getting the best care!
Response from the owner:Thank you for trusting our team over the years and for your kind words about Dr. Hoffmann and our staff. We truly value your confidence in the care we provide!
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.
Searching for a new dental clinic is challenging for someone who has
dental anxiety, fear, and traumatic experiences in a dental chair. The staff and doctors at the Dental Anesthesia Center were immediately very welcoming. Dr. Thoms put together a very detailed plan to repair and replace the previous work that I had in the past that was now causing problems. Putting my faith in him was the best thing that I could have done for my situation. I am more than completely satisfied with all of the extensive dental work that I’ve had with Dr.Thoms. I had my fourth sleep dentistry experience yesterday and I’m very happy with my results. I highly recommend this practice and truly want to give them more than five stars! Thank you for giving me back my health and confidence.
Response from the owner:We know it isn’t always easy to find a dental office where you feel at ease, so your words mean the world to us. We’re so glad you feel comfortable with our team and truly appreciate your trust and recommendation!
Prior to Sedation
It is important for parents to understand what is happening so that they are prepared and can also help prepare their children. Before sedation, parents need to understand and follow the restrictions set by the dentist. For instance, they need to comply with food and drink restrictions prior to sedation. This is because sedation can pose the risk of the contents of the stomach being vomited and inhaled into the lungs. Therefore, the restriction is a safety precaution that is put in place.
It is also necessary for parents to provide a full medical history of their child and tell the dentist about any medications or supplements the child takes.
Types of Sedation
Minimal Sedation – an individual is conscious. This method is the lightest level of sedation. It involves a mild sedative, such as a Valium-like medication or Nitrous Oxide (laughing gas.) Using this kind of sedation requires no additional training for the dentist.
Moderate Sedation (Sedation Dentistry) – the patient is conscious and is referred to as “Sedation Dentistry.” Moderate Sedation allows the patient to simply respond to questions. You are not asleep for sedation dentistry. A dentist is required to receive two days of additional training when administering pills orally. Intravenous (IV) Sedation requires at least 60 hours of training or a dentist can be trained as part of a residency program.
Deep Sedation ( General Anesthesia Dentistry or Sleep Dentistry) – Using this method, there is no memory of the procedure. Dentists who provide this method require a two-year Dental Anesthesiology Residency or an Oral Surgery Residency. This is the recommended level of sedation for individuals unable to tolerate dental treatment for mental or physical reasons.
The sedation method for an individual is determined by the patient’s medical history and current physical and mental health. When you come in for your appointment, Dr. Hoffmann or Dr. Behl will decide which level is best for you.
During Sedation
During the procedure, ensuring the patient’s safety is of the utmost importance. While a patient is sedated, their blood oxygen level, blood pressure, heart rate, and temperature are closely monitored.
After Sedation
Typically parents are asked to be present when their child is waking up after sedation. A child can sometimes be confused or upset and will often feel nauseous. Due to longer-lasting effects such as dizziness, sleepiness, and loss of physical coordination, a child shouldn’t go back to school or daycare after their procedure.
The child should be monitored for the first few hours after sedation. If they experience severe pain, vomiting, fever, or severe bleeding, parents need to immediately contact the dentist.
Sedation Dentistry for Children
When you and your child come in for your appointment, Dr. Hoffmann, Dr. Thoms, or Dr. Behl will decide which option is the best for your child, depending on their anxiety level and cooperation. Call us today to schedule your appointment at (314) 862-7844. We look forward to meeting you!
