Safe & Effective Dental Sedation for Kids in Kerrville, TX

Whether your child frequently experiences dental anxiety or they have an advanced restorative treatment coming up, dental sedation can help them stay calm and relaxed during their treatment. Dental sedation can also help patients who have strong gag reflexes and have trouble sitting still for a long time. Our office provides nitrous oxide, oral conscious sedation, and general anesthesia. To learn more about our sedation services, please contact our office!

What does dental sedation feel like?

While nitrous oxide is better known as laughing gas, it does not usually make patients laugh. Instead, laughing gas promotes feelings of contentedness and relaxation, but it can put patients in a great mood. Oral conscious sedation puts the patient in a dream-like state where they are less aware of their surroundings, while general anesthesia renders the patient unconscious for the entirety of their treatment. All of these options also prevent new memories from forming, so many patients actually have little to no memory of their dental visit.

What are the side effects of dental sedation?

The side effects of dental sedation are usually mild if they even occur at all. Nausea is one of the more common side effects for patients who use nitrous oxide, so we recommend having your child eat a snack or a light meal before their appointment. Patients who use oral conscious sedation or general anesthesia will likely feel groggy and sleepy after their visit. Other possible side effects can include headache, dizziness, and sweating, and if you are ever concerned about how your child is acting after receiving sedation, please feel free to call our office for assistance.

young girl giving the dentist a high five

Is dental sedation safe?

Dental sedation is a safe way for patients to feel at ease in the dental chair. While patients are undergoing treatment, our staff is always monitoring their vitals to ensure that everything is going smoothly. Before we recommend or allow patients to receive dental sedation, we always review their medical history, the medications they’re on, their current health status, and the dental treatment they’re receiving to determine what sedation option will be the safest and most effective for their unique situation.