If your child is scheduled for an oral surgery, a more invasive restorative treatment, or if they simply have a hard time holding still for extended periods of time, it may be a good idea to consider oral conscious sedation. Our friendly team at We Care Dental Care in Roanoke is always happy to answer any questions you may have about your sedation options and walk you through the process from start to finish. Our goal is to ensure you and your child feel comfortable, informed, and confident during every visit.
The term sedation refers to the suppression of conciseness. When some people hear sedation, they think of general anesthesia in a hospital setting. In that situation, the patient is 100% asleep. However, this is not the case with oral conscious sedation.
Oral conscious sedation is defined as the use of oral medications in combination with laughing gas sedation. This method of sedation is called “conscious” sedation because the child is still at least partially awake. They’ll have full control of their airways during treatment and they’ll be able to respond to Dr. Burkitt.
Although this method of sedation is not as deep as other forms, it also means that the risk of complication is much lower. In most cases, Dr. Burkitt prefers this method over IV sedation (intravenous sedation) because, for most children, their biggest fear is the needle. By offering the medication orally before we start treatment, your child will feel relaxed and calm before the procedure.
Oral conscious sedation is completely safe and your little one is in great hands with Dr. Burkitt. We always start every sedation case with an in-depth consultation. During this appointment, Dr. Burkitt will review your child’s dental needs and medical history to make sure they are a good candidate for oral conscious sedation. If he feels that your child is not a good candidate, he will discuss alternatives with you so your child can still get the care they need.
No, your child will not be able to eat before their appointment as nausea is a common side-effect of sedation. We recommend that you feed your child a hearty, late dinner and then do not let them eat or snack after midnight the night before the procedure. Luckily, all sedation appointments are scheduled at 8:00 am, so your child will not have to endure a long morning without eating.
Most dental insurances will pay for most of the dental treatment, such as filling, crowns, and extractions, but not the sedation portion. For your convenience, we also offer our families the option to finance the cost of their treatments through CareCredit. Be sure to speak with a member of our team to get more information on you financial options. If you are interested in bringing your little one in for a sedation consultation, give us a call at (540) 427-7274. Or if you’re nearby in Roanoke, feel free to stop by our office at 3433 Orange Ave NE, Suite A1, Roanoke, VA 24012.