Sedation Dentistry helps young children receive dental treatment who otherwise would not receive it. There are different options for sedation dentistry that can be used to help apprehensive children relax and allow Dr. Watts or Dr. Williams to restore their mouth to a healthy state. After an initial examination Dr. Watts or Dr. Williams will discuss the different options.

Nitrous Oxide

Often the use of nitrous oxide (laughing gas) helps the anxious child relax so treatment can be preformed comfortably.

Oral Sedation

Oral sedation with a mild sedative may be used if nitrous oxide will not provide adequate sedation, but where general anesthesia is not required.

Candidates for Sedation dentistry include:

• Infants
• Children that have very extensive dental needs
• The very apprehensive child
• Children that have a very strong gag reflex
• Children that have had traumatic dental experiences
• Children that do not like the sounds and smells associated with dental care
• The medically compromised child
• The mentally handicapped child
  

General Anesthesia in a hospital setting

General Anesthesia is a procedure in which a medical anesthesiologist sedates the child in order to provide a safe and comfortable environment to provide treatment. This type of sedation is used for patients who would not cooperate with oral sedation due to age, the inability to cooperate in an outpatient setting, and/or have a medically compromising condition.