Treatment under Sedation

The thought of having any type of surgery can be scary and worrisome to many children and parents. We offer various sedation treatments in theatre or at our practice. At The Gentle Dentist, we take the time to make you and your child feel as comfortable as possible before, during and after the surgery.

Tips for parents

Helping your child prepare for surgery

As a parent, you'll need to learn about your child's condition so you can help make the hospital visit as easy as possible. We'll answer any questions you may have beforehand, and we can help you talk to your child about the surgery.

To help prepare your child for their surgery and hospital stay, try to calm your child and explain to him/her in simple terms what will happen.

You're welcome to bring their favourite doll, toy, or soother to the operating room which they can use before and after surgery.

When to stop eating

Your child should:

• Stop eating or drinking formula milk 6 hours before surgery time
• Stop drinking breast milk 4 hours before the surgery time
• Stop drinking clear fluids, e.g. apple, grape juice, or black tea, 2 hours before the operation.

Types of sedation

We offer the following types of sedation to make your child feel comfortable during the procedure:

Intravenous (IV) Sedation

IV sedation requires a needle to be inserted into the child’s vein, usually in the hand or arm. The biggest advantage of IV sedation is that we can give your child more medicine during a long procedure to help keep him or her relaxed.

Conscious sedation

Conscious sedation is a combination of medicines ( a sedative ) to help your child relax and to block pain (an anesthetic) during the dental procedure. Your child will probably stay awake, but may not be able to speak. Conscious sedation lets them recover quickly and return to everyday activities soon after your procedure.