Fearful / Anxious Children Dental Patients
We can help ease your child's fears at the dentist
We understand some children will have anxiety at visiting the dentist. Experience and research has shown that frequently this fear of the dentist is learned from the child’s parents due to their own past experiences or fears. For this reason, we ask that you not “over prepare” your child for their appointment. In particular, please do not discuss things such as “shots,” “drills,” “pulling teeth,” etc. We recommend keeping things positive at all times!
Our pediatric dentist office offers a variety of advanced techniques to help children through their restorative dental appointments:
Our pediatric dentist office offers a variety of advanced techniques to help children through their restorative dental appointments:
Nitrous Oxide (“Laughing Gas”)
Nitrous oxide is a very safe and effective way to help keep a child calm and relaxed during your children's dentist appointment. An appropriately-sized mask with a fun scent is placed over your child’s nose as they lie back in the chair and watch cartoons on our ceiling-mounted TVs. It is best to limit conversation during this time to ensure the child is breathing the gas through their nose and not breathing through their mouth. It is normal for the child to experience some tingling in their fingers and toes as well as around their mouth. Sometimes it may also make them feel silly and giggle. At the end of the appointment our staff will have them breathe pure oxygen for a few minutes to flush all of the laughing gas out of their system. We do recommend the child not eat a large meal prior to their appointment as the gas may make some children feel a bit nauseous if they’ve recently eaten.
Conscious Sedation Dentistry For Kids
For young or very apprehensive children, Dr. Derek may recommend conscious sedation. Factors to consider in this decision include the child’s medical history, the amount of treatment they require, the child’s age, and even their personality. If your child is a candidate for this procedure, we will require they not eat/drink anything for several hours prior to their appointment. Our staff will obtain their weight and pre-operative vital signs. Dr. Derek will listen to their lungs to make sure they are clear and not congested. He will then choose a special sedative medication based on your child’s weight and the length of the treatment appointment. This medicine will be taken orally by the child. While waiting for the medicine to take effect, your child will relax in the “cabin,” a special, quiet room with a fun, Colorado theme and flat screen TV. Your child will then be transferred to one of our operatory rooms to complete their treatment. Your child’s heart rate and blood-oxygen concentration will be continually monitored during this time. Dr. Derek also uses a special stethoscope that allows him to listen to your child’s airway while treating your child. Parents are not allowed into the treatment rooms during conscious sedation appointments, as Dr. Derek and his staff want to ensure 100% of their attention is focused on your child! After the appointment, your child will briefly recover back in the “cabin,” where we will take a final set of vital signs and make sure they are safe to go home.
While conscious sedation is very safe, its effectiveness may vary. Dr. Derek breaks the effectiveness into three groups: (1) Roughly 1/3 of children will experience an optimal sedation experience. They will remain relaxed and compliant, and treatment will be completely safely and quickly. (2) Another 1/3 of kids may fuss a little and/or cry during the appointment, but treatment can still be completed with relative ease. (3) The last 1/3 of kids may become quite agitated and/or combative from the medicine. If this situation occurs with your child, Dr. Derek and the staff will consult with you about the best way to proceed with treatment.
Please be aware that oral sedations are not intended to put your child to sleep! Ideally the child will be responsive to basic questions and stimuli, although some children may become so relaxed that they doze off from time-to-time. Rest assured Dr. Derek and the staff will be continually monitoring your child to ensure they are safe.
While conscious sedation is very safe, its effectiveness may vary. Dr. Derek breaks the effectiveness into three groups: (1) Roughly 1/3 of children will experience an optimal sedation experience. They will remain relaxed and compliant, and treatment will be completely safely and quickly. (2) Another 1/3 of kids may fuss a little and/or cry during the appointment, but treatment can still be completed with relative ease. (3) The last 1/3 of kids may become quite agitated and/or combative from the medicine. If this situation occurs with your child, Dr. Derek and the staff will consult with you about the best way to proceed with treatment.
Please be aware that oral sedations are not intended to put your child to sleep! Ideally the child will be responsive to basic questions and stimuli, although some children may become so relaxed that they doze off from time-to-time. Rest assured Dr. Derek and the staff will be continually monitoring your child to ensure they are safe.
General Anesthesia Dentistry For Kids
For children with extensive dental needs and/or children with special needs, Dr. Derek may recommend general anesthesia. These cases are completed in an outpatient surgery center. Prior to their appointment your child will need to have a physical examination completed by their doctor. The paperwork for this exam will be given to you by our staff. It is vital your child have nothing to eat or drink from midnight prior to the morning of the appointment. You must also keep our staff advised if your child’s health status changes as we want your child feeling their healthy best for this appointment! Your child will be put to sleep with an anesthetic gas administered by an anesthesiologist. The treatment time varies, but it is typically around an hour. Your child will then remain in the recovery room at the surgery center for another hour or so prior to being discharged to recover at home.
It is important to be familiar with your medical and dental benefits. Our treatment coordinator will assist you in obtaining a pre-authorization for the anesthesia if it is required by your medical insurance carrier. You are ultimately responsible for knowing your deductible and co-pays, as the surgery center and the anesthesia team will bill your medical insurance for their services. Our staff will provide a dental treatment plan and estimated amounts covered by your dental insurance. Although we do our best to present an accurate treatment plan with its associated fees, it is not always possible to obtain an accurate exam, complete with x-rays, prior to a general anesthesia appointment. If necessary, Dr. Derek will obtain x-rays while your child is asleep and they will receive a thorough exam. The treatment plan may then be modified, and associated treatment fees may change.
It is important to be familiar with your medical and dental benefits. Our treatment coordinator will assist you in obtaining a pre-authorization for the anesthesia if it is required by your medical insurance carrier. You are ultimately responsible for knowing your deductible and co-pays, as the surgery center and the anesthesia team will bill your medical insurance for their services. Our staff will provide a dental treatment plan and estimated amounts covered by your dental insurance. Although we do our best to present an accurate treatment plan with its associated fees, it is not always possible to obtain an accurate exam, complete with x-rays, prior to a general anesthesia appointment. If necessary, Dr. Derek will obtain x-rays while your child is asleep and they will receive a thorough exam. The treatment plan may then be modified, and associated treatment fees may change.