Going to the dentist shouldn’t be scary, but sometimes little ones get nervous and antsy during their visits. Fortunately, you have several gentle sedation options to help your child feel relaxed and stay still, which allows their treatment to go by faster. At ChildSmiles OC, we’ve created a warm, supportive environment where even the most nervous children can receive the dental care they need while feeling comfortable and relaxed.
Dr. Mehdi Dowlaty, our board-certified pediatric dentist, combines extensive training in pediatric sedation, personalized care, and advanced technology to give your child the high-quality, kid-focused treatment they deserve. We prioritize your child’s safety, comfort, and oral health every step of the way to help build confidence and trust from an early age.
What Is Sedation Dentistry?
With all the machines, noises, and tools in a dentist’s office, children may have trouble staying calm and relaxed before and during a procedure. In fact, approximately nine percent of children in the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Australia have dental anxiety. Sedation dentistry acts like a cozy security blanket that alleviates worries and makes the time in the dental chair fly by more comfortably. We take a kid-focused approach to sedation, customizing the level to match your child’s needs perfectly.
We have several special options that range from just a touch of relaxation to dreamier states of calm for longer procedures. Our dedicated team chooses the right choice for your child based on their unique personality, medical needs, and preferences. With special training in helping children feel safe and secure with sedation, you can trust us to make your child’s experience gentle and positive.
When Is Sedation Dentistry Recommended?
Every child has their own feelings about visiting the dentist, so before we start any treatment, we discuss their needs and sedation options to determine what’s best for them. We’ve found that the following situations often benefit from a little extra help with relaxation during treatment:
- Children who feel extra nervous or frightened about dental procedures
- Little ones who find it challenging to sit still for the time needed to complete treatment
- Kids who need several dental procedures done in the same visit
- Children with special healthcare needs
- Children who may have had scary dental experiences in the past
- Young children who are still learning how to cooperate during dental treatment
We take the time to get to know your child and understand what makes them comfortable. Working together with you, we create a positive environment that helps build their confidence with each visit to our office.
Types of Sedation We Offer
Based on our discussion during your consultation, we will create a tailored sedation dentistry plan using one of our many options. We administer the following types of sedation with extra care and attention to ensure your little one feels secure throughout their visit:
- Nitrous oxide (laughing gas): A light, mild gas your child inhales to keep them relaxed while staying awake
- IV sedation: Gentle medication given intravenously that we often recommend for children with special needs or more intense anxiety
- General anesthesia: Recommended for the most invasive treatment to keep your child completely asleep, so they don’t feel or remember anything about their procedure.
If your child has special needs or is too young to receive sedation in our office, we have hospital privileges that allow your child to receive their treatment in a safe, monitored environment with a certified pediatric anesthesiologist.
Benefits of Sedation Dentistry for Children
Choosing sedation dentistry at ChildSmiles OC offers excellent benefits beyond just helping your child get through a single appointment. Our approach combines advanced sedation techniques with a deeply compassionate understanding of children’s emotional needs around dental care, transforming your child’s experience in the following ways:
- Creates happy, positive dental memories that help children feel good about future visits
- Allows us to complete multiple treatments in one visit, meaning fewer trips to the dentist
- Helps prevent the development of dental fears that might follow them into adulthood
- Makes it possible for children to receive important care they might otherwise miss out on
- Provides a gentler experience for children with special needs or sensory sensitivities
- Helps children forget the details of potentially uncomfortable procedures
- Gives parents the peace of mind that comes from seeing their child comfortable and relaxed
At ChildSmiles OC, Dr. Dowlaty brings over 15 years of specialized pediatric experience to every sedation procedure. As a father, he understands parents’ natural concerns when considering sedation for their little ones. His gentle approach and board certification in pediatric dentistry mean your child receives the highest standard of care in the most nurturing environment possible.
Why Choose ChildSmiles OC for Sedation Dentistry?
Our caring team understands the importance of finding a sedation dentist you trust to care for your child during treatments, especially if your child has anxiety, trouble sitting still, or special needs. We strive to make your decision easy by standing out in the following ways:
Fun Office Designed for Kids
We designed our office with children’s comfort in mind, featuring special amenities like entertainment and iPads in treatment rooms that help create a positive atmosphere before, during, and after sedation. We’ve invested in the most advanced monitoring equipment available, ensuring your child’s safety while allowing us to provide the most precise treatments while they’re comfortably sedated.
Personalized Care
From our front desk staff who greet your child by name to our dental assistants who specialize in caring for sedated children, everyone on our team strives to make the experience exceptional and tailored to your child’s needs, so they leave our office feeling positively about the dentist.
Free Meet and Greet
We offer free “Meet and Greet” sessions for families considering sedation dentistry. During these no-obligation visits, your child can explore our kid-friendly office, meet our team, and even sit in the dental chair while you discuss any concerns. These introductory visits can make all the difference in your child’s comfort level when they return for treatment.
Flexible Financial Options
We understand sedation dentistry can be a major investment in your child’s care, so we offer flexible financing options to make these services accessible to all families. Through partnerships with CareCredit and our in-house payment plans, we can create a financing arrangement that works with your family’s budget and maximizes your insurance benefits.
Schedule a Sedation Dentistry Consultation With ChildSmiles OC Today
If your child gets nervous about dental visits or has special needs that make traditional appointments challenging, ChildSmiles OC offers several gentle sedation options. Our compassionate approach helps transform dental anxiety into positive experiences that build confidence and trust.
With family-friendly hours that include evening appointments, we make it easy to fit quality dental care into your busy schedule. Reach out today at (714) 253-3172 or through our online appointment form to learn how we can make your child’s next dental visit a comfortable, positive experience!
