Sedation Options in Petaluma, CA

Many children have a hard time sitting still, which can make dental care difficult. Others may be fearful or anxious about visiting the dentist. However, with sedation options, we can ensure your child stays comfortable and relaxed during their visit, so every trip to the dentist is a positive experience.

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Why Should I Choose Pediatric Sedation?

Sedation is really useful for kids. Just like adults, children are often nervous about dental procedures like fillings, or even oral exams and teeth cleanings. Sedation keeps your child calm, comfortable, and safe throughout their entire procedure.

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Did you know…

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Nitrous oxide, or “laughing gas” was first used in dental sedation way back in 1844. Today, it’s still the most common sedation method for kids.

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Laughing Gas for Little Smiles

The most mild form of sedation, nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas or minimally inhaled sedation, is a safe way to help your child stay relaxed during their treatment.

General Anesthesia

General anesthesia puts your child in a sleep-like state during their dental procedure. Dr. Austin partners with a board certified anesthesiologist, and if they recommend this sedation option for your child, rest assured they will walk you through each step of the process.


Board-Certified Pediatric Dentist

Rest assured that your child is receiving top-notch, specialized care with our Board-Certified Pediatric Dentists, Dr. Austin and Dr. Gupta. To be recognized by The American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, doctors must undergo extensive training in the pediatric field in addition to their standard dental degrees.

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The Benefits of Pediatric Sedation

Manage Fear & Dental Anxiety

Seeing the dentist can be scary for kids of all ages, particularly for procedures like fillings. With sedation, your little one can sit back, relax, and feel more comfortable throughout their entire appointment with Dr. Austin or Dr. Gupta.

Eliminate Pain & Discomfort

Along with local numbing, sedation is extremely effective at controlling any potential pain and discomfort that your little one may experience during their treatment. This makes their treatment easier and gives you peace of mind.

Mitigate Gag Reflex, Fear Of Needles

Some types of sedation can help impair the gag reflex, which is really useful if your child needs work to be done on their rear teeth and has a sensitive gag reflex. It can also help with fear of numbing needles, which is common in both kids and adults.

The Pediatric Sedation Treatment Process

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Initial Consultation & Approval

Before your child can be sedated, Dr. Austin  or Dr. Gupta will discuss their health history, medications, supplements, and other details with you to make sure they can be sedated safely. If your child is approved, Dr. Austin  or Dr. Gupta will discuss their options for sedation, and which one may be right for their situation.

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Preparation & Sedation

If you need to do anything special to prepare for their appointment, Dr. Austin  or Dr. Gupta will let you know. Then, you’ll come to our office as scheduled, and your child will be sedated for their appointment. They’ll be able to relax and get their treatment in a comfortable, child-friendly environment.

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Sedation Aftercare

Depending on the type of sedation, your child may recover from sedation within just a few minutes, or may require some special aftercare and monitoring after their appointment. Dr. Austin or Dr. Gupta will give you all the details you need to care for your little one after their treatment.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When done correctly, sedation dentistry for children, even toddlers, is completely safe. Several precautions are taken to ensure a seamless experience. First, we’ll take a detailed health history to make sure we recommend the right sedation option. We’ll then discuss options with the parent or guardian so that you understand the effects and are prepared to care for your child after their procedure. All methods of sedation dentistry are provided by professionals at our office so you can rest assured that your child’s well-being is of the utmost importance and safety.

This depends on the method of sedation. With laughing gas, your child will feel light-headed, giggly, and relaxed, but will be fully conscious and aware of their surroundings. They will also feel less discomfort during treatment. General anesthesia is the deepest level of sedation. Your child will be completely unconscious and will not feel anything or remember anything from the procedure.

As long as your child is healthy and is not taking any medications that may interfere with the sedation, your child should be a good candidate for sedation dentistry. Contact us to learn more about sedation options for your child. We can discuss any concerns you may have during a consultation.

Sedation is most often used to treat dental anxiety and keep children at ease during their treatment. Fear of the dentist is very common, and sedation can keep your child calm during their appointments.

Additionally, sedation helps with pain and discomfort during more invasive procedures, such as tooth extractions. It also helps young patients feel more comfortable if they need to sit still for longer treatment times.