Can The Dentist Sedate A Toddler? Answering FAQs About Dental Sedation For Toddlers

Taking your toddler to the dentist can be stressful, especially if your little one hasn’t been to the dentist before or is scared or anxious about seeing the dentist. Luckily for you, Sea of Smiles Pediatric Dentistry offers sedation dentistry at our offices in Yardley, Bensalem, Warrington, and Glenside. With our caring approach to pediatric care and sedation available for nervous kids, we can make the entire experience safe, comfortable, and stress-free for little ones of all ages.
‍

Can The Dentist Sedate A Toddler?

Yes! Today’s dental sedation techniques are safe for kids and adults of all ages. This includes toddlers, as well as infants, older kids, preteens, teenagers, and young adults, too! The team at Sea of Smiles Pediatric Dentistry can safely sedate kids of any age. This helps them have a more positive experience at the dental office, and sets them up for a lifetime of healthy smiles.

When sedating toddlers, our team uses the latest best practices and techniques to calculate the proper dose, and we will discuss your child’s health history, medications and supplements they're taking, and other information with you. This ensures that your little one can be treated safely with the appropriate method of pediatric dental sedation.
‍

What Type Of Sedation Is Right For Toddlers?

You may also be wondering what your sedation options are for toddlers. The good news is that every type of sedation is safe for your little one! There are three types of sedation that are often used for toddlers:

• Nitrous oxide (laughing gas) – This is often the best option for toddlers. They will breathe in a mixture of laughing gas and oxygen through a small, comfortable nose mask. This will make them feel less anxious, but they will remain fully awake and aware. Laughing gas also wears off in just a few minutes, so you can get back to your daily routine faster.

• Oral conscious sedation – In this method of sedation, your child’s pediatric dentist will give your child a liquid sedative that will make them feel groggy. They may even fall asleep or forget most of their procedure. This is a good option for kids who may be more nervous about dentistry.
  
  
• IV sedation – IV sedation uses the same drugs as oral sedation, but they are delivered right into your toddler’s veins with an IV. This means the sedative works faster, and has deeper effects. Your child will likely sleep through their entire procedure.

General anesthesia may also be an option, but only for very invasive procedures. This type of sedation makes your child completely unconscious, but it’s the most expensive and complex type of sedation.
‍

Can My Toddler Get Sedation For Any Procedure?

As long as we confirm that they are good candidates for sedation dentistry at our office, the team at Sea of Smiles Pediatric Dentistry can offer sedation during just about any procedure. From routine six-month checkups to fillings and more, our goal is always to make sure that your child feels safe, comfortable, and welcome during any treatment at Sea of Smiles Pediatric Dentistry.
‍

Contact Sea Of Smiles For An Appointment Today!

With four convenient locations, the team at Sea of Smiles is here to serve your family in Yardley, Bensalem, Warrington, and Glenside. If you think your little one could benefit from pediatric dental sedation, don’t wait. Take the first steps now, and contact us online to learn more or schedule a consultation for your child.