Sedation Dentistry in Houston, TX

Pediatric sedation dentistry is helpful in many different ways. Sedation dentistry can:

• Calm children that are anxious
• Allow the pediatric dentist to accomplish more in one visit
• Allow the dentist time to complete longer procedures and treatments
• Help children with a low pain threshold

Many parents will ask whether or not sedation dentistry is safe for children, and the answer is yes! As long as the sedation is handled by a professional, it can make many difficult treatments able to be accomplished more efficiently and safer. Please do not hesitate to ask about the safety of any of the sedatives we use. Our goal is to treat your child the way we would want our own to be treated.

Nitrous Oxide Sedation

Also called laughing gas, nitrous oxide sedation is made up of a combination of nitrous oxide and oxygen and is delivered to a patient via a nasal mask. It helps to relax the patient while also spreading a euphoric feeling throughout their body. For simple/mild anxiety and light procedures, nitrous oxide can work very well.

Oral Sedation

This method of sedation is typically used along with Nitrous Oxide and involves the patient swallowing a small amount of liquid medicine that helps to calm them. The child will not be put to sleep with an oral sedative. It allows the children to be calm during longer or more difficult procedures and is very safe when used properly by professionals with advanced training.

IV Sedation

This type of behavior management is performed in our office by a board-certified anesthesiologist. It involves using an IV line to put the patient into a fully conscious sleep state while Dr. Urbach treats the children’s dental needs. This can be a very safe and effective method of treating all of your child’s dental needs at one visit if your child has a severe dental phobia, has large amounts of cavities that are difficult to treat, is too young for oral sedation, or has a medical condition that prevents us from using an oral sedative.

General Anesthesia

Under general anesthesia, the patient is completely sedated and temporarily unconscious. For children with severe phobias, children needing lengthy procedures like full mouth rehabilitation, children who are too young for oral or IV sedation, or children with certain medical conditions, general anesthesia can be both a safer and more efficient method of behavior management. This type of anesthesia is performed by an anesthesiologist in an outpatient setting at a hospital or ambulatory surgery center with Dr. Urbach doing the treatment.

If dental anxiety is the main reason for needing sedation, it is helpful to let us know when making an appointment so we can take any steps necessary to ensure that your child is comfortable during their visit with us.