General Anesthesia & Oral Sedation for Children
General anesthesia puts the patient into a deep sleep and is typically requested in more complex cases, while oral sedation helps your child relax during their visit.
General Anesthesia and Oral Sedation for Children
At Oso Pediatric Dentistry, Dr. Elena Bedilo proudly provides comprehensive dental services for children in Oxnard, CA, including general anesthesia and oral sedation. General anesthesia puts the patient into a deep sleep and is typically requested in more complex cases, while oral sedation helps your child relax during their visit. Both treatments provide parents peace of mind by helping ensure their child has as comfortable an experience as possible.
What is General Anesthesia?
General anesthesia is a medication that induces a deep sleep so your child can have a procedure without feeling pain or distress. It’s commonly used for more invasive dental procedures requiring longer appointments or more significant discomfort than other treatments. With general anesthesia, your child will be unconscious throughout the process, allowing the dentist to complete it without interruption from pain or anxiety.
When Might My Child Need General Anesthesia?
Dr. Bedilo may recommend general anesthesia if:
- Your child needs extensive dental treatment, such as multiple extractions or implants.
- Your child has special needs, such as autism spectrum disorder.
- Your child experiences severe anxiety during a visit.
- Your child requires a lengthy procedure or multiple procedures all at once.
- The dentist completes all restorative work while the patient is asleep.
- The dentist's office has limited resources to treat complex cases effectively under conscious sedation alone.
What Does General Anesthesia Involve?
Before administering general anesthesia, your dentist will assess and review your medical history to ensure it’s safe to proceed with the procedure. During this time, they may also recommend additional tests depending on your child’s circumstances. Once this process is completed, Dr. Bedilo will administer the general anesthetic before beginning the treatment. Depending on the type of surgery she performs, you may need to stay with your child until they have fully recovered from the medication before leaving them in their care following the procedure.
What is Oral Sedation?
Oral sedation refers to using medications orally (by mouth) rather than intravenously (through an injection) for patients to relax during their visit if they are experiencing anxiety or fear associated with going to the dentist. This form of sedation helps keep children relaxed yet still alert enough to respond when asked questions by their dentists while maintaining control over essential functions like breathing and swallowing throughout the process. The types of medication used are typically fast-acting but short-lasting so that patients wake up quickly afterward.
When Might My Child Need Oral Sedation?
Oral sedation works best for milder cases with fears or anxiousness associated with visiting the dentist’s office but no major physical obstacles preventing treatment from taking place safely under conscious sedation alone. Your dentist might suggest this option if:
- Your child experiences anxiety related to going to the dentist.
- Your child has difficulty controlling movements due to age or disability.
- Multiple procedures need to be completed within one appointment.
- Restorative work must be done but cannot be completed with conscious sedation alone.
- Your child has no medical conditions preventing them from receiving oral sedatives safely (e.g., allergies).
- The treatment plan involves extensive time in one session and includes multiple visits for single treatments, which could benefit from being combined into fewer visits using oral sedatives.
How Does Oral Sedative Work?
Before starting any treatment using oral sedatives, Dr. Bedilo will assess whether it’s safe for your particular case based on existing medical conditions and other factors such as age and weight requirements for each drug dosage utilized during treatment sessions. After confirming safety protocols are met, we will give instructions detailing when your child should take the pill before arriving at Oso Pediatric Dentistry office.
During the appointment, your child will be monitored closely so that any changes in vital signs can be detected immediately to ensure safety and comfort throughout the entire duration of service. Moreover, once completed, all medications taken will wear off relatively quickly after the procedure, which enables parents/guardians to pick up their kids shortly after that without complication.
General Anesthesia and Oral Sedation for Children in Oxnard
If you're searching for a dental office specializing in general anesthesia and oral sedative for children, Oso Pediatric Dentistry is the perfect place. Their talented and experienced staff, led by Doctor Elena Bedilo, have extensive experience in pediatric dentistry and providing a safe and comfortable experience for kids. Dr. Bedilo and her team are dedicated to providing the highest quality of care, and they understand the importance of providing a safe and comfortable experience for kids.
Oso Pediatric Dentistry is your best option for general anesthesia and oral sedation for children in Oxnard, CA. Schedule an appointment today!