Sedation Dentistry
Nitrous Oxide Most commonly referred to as laughing gas, nitrous oxide is one of the greatest tools we use here in our office. Nitrous Oxide increases the pain threshold, suppresses the gag reflex and is considered a mild anxiolytic (breaking anxiety). For smaller, non-invasive restorations many times Dr. Dunne is able to complete the treatment without having to get the teeth numb. This can be a benefit as most children do not wish to have their mouths "sleepy." Oral Conscious Sedation For patients that have a little higher anxiety we offer an oral conscious sedation in our office. This is a morning appointment where your child would come in with nothing to eat or drink and we administer the sedative orally according to your child’s weight. You sit with your child in our sedation room while the medication takes effect-approximately 20 minutes. We bring your child into the operatory and supplement with nitrous oxide. Keep in mind, your child remains conscious through the appointment. One of the side effects of sedation can be amnesia to treatment. There are two sedatives that we utilize in our office to help render dental care. Neither is a narcotic and the results vary depending on the sedative we use. The decision to utilize conscious sedation will be discussed in-office at your child’s initial appointment. Hospital Dentistry For our little ones (or big kids) that are just not able to complete their dental work in the office we do offer dentistry under general anesthesia. This is NOT done at our office. We take the children to either McKenzie Surgery Center or McKenzie Willamette Hospital where the anesthesia is administered by the anesthesiologists. Dr. Dunne and his assistants will be there to aid your child with their dental care and the wonderful staff at the Surgery Center or Hospital takes care of the rest. Some children are simply not able to complete their care under normal conditions in the office and due to the extent of decay, length of treatment, age of patient, and patient safety due to cooperation we find that rendering their treatment under general anesthesia is the very best choice and allows for quality restorations. Each parent has the opportunity to discuss general anesthesia with Dr. Dunne, if need be, as well as with the anesthesia group where your child may receive treatment. |