Children’s Dental Care – Gaithersburg, Maryland
Sedation Dentistry
Sedation dentistry is perfectly safe for patients of all ages. At Children’s Dental Care, we will guide you to the best options for your child.
Dr. Tong is a Board-Certified Pediatric Sedation Dentist
Sedation dentistry with Dr. Tong allows his little patients to relax while undergoing a dental procedure. Dental sedation enables patients to overcome anxiety from discomfort all the way up to phobia about even visiting the dentist. Plus, sedation allows you to group various procedures into a single office visit, making it a better use of your family’s time.
If you have an unpleasant memory of visiting the dentist from your childhood, a mishap during a previous restoration, or you may be somewhat embarrassed that you haven’t been keeping up with your regular check-ups. We don’t judge and want to put you at ease.
Experienced and compassionate sedation dentists like Dr. James Tong understand your concerns. Dr. Tong strives to make your child’s dental visit completely relaxing and fear-free with the use of sedation dentistry options like IV sedation and conscious sedation.
Who is a good candidate?
Patients can confuse sedation with pain relief. Our patients don’t feel a thing during any procedures due to our anesthetics. Dr. Tong offers sedation, not for pain, but to help patients deal with strong feelings of fear and anxiety that arise when they visit the dentist. After receiving sedation and successfully completing their treatments, patients often experience a change in the entire way they view dental appointments going forward.
Have difficulty overcoming anxiety about the dentist
Have a low pain threshold
Have very sensitive teeth
Have a very strong gag reflex
Need a large amount of work done
Sedation Services in Gaithersburg
Dr. James Tong would like to invite you to visit our office for a full complement of services in one location. We offer IV sedation or nitrous oxide for nervous guests, dental implants to replace missing teeth or secure dentures or for full arch replacement, and oral surgery which includes things like tooth extractions, wisdom teeth, or in preparation for implants.
Nervous About Dentistry?
IV Sedation
Outpatient General Anesthesia is recommended for apprehensive children, very young children, and children with special needs that would not work well under conscious sedation or I.V. sedation. General anesthesia renders your child completely asleep. This would be the same as if he/she was having their tonsils removed, ear tubes or hernia repaired. This is performed in a hospital or outpatient setting only.
Relax During Treatment
Oral Sedation
Conscious Sedation is recommended for apprehensive children, very young children, and children with special needs. It is used to calm your child and to reduce the anxiety or discomfort associated with dental treatments. Your child may be quite drowsy, and may even fall asleep, but they will not become unconscious.
Available To All Patients
Nitrous Oxide
Some children are given nitrous oxide/oxygen, or what you may know as laughing gas, to relax them for their dental treatment. Nitrous oxide/oxygen is a blend of two gases, oxygen, and nitrous oxide. Nitrous oxide/oxygen is given through a small breathing mask which is placed over the child’s nose, allowing them to relax, but without putting them to sleep.
How Sedation Dentistry for Children Works
Prior to Your Child’s Appointment
Please notify us of any change in your child’s health. Do not bring your child for treatment with a fever, ear infection, or cold. Should your child become ill, contact us to see if it is necessary to postpone the appointment.
You must tell the doctor of any drugs that your child is currently taking and any drug reactions and/or change in medical history.
Please dress your child in loose-fitting, comfortable clothing.
Your child should not have milk or solid food after midnight prior to the scheduled procedure and clear liquids ONLY (water, apple juice, Gatorade) for up to 6 hours prior to the appointment.
The child’s parent or legal guardian must remain at the hospital or surgical site waiting room during the complete procedure.
After Your Child’s Appointment
Your child will be drowsy and will need to be monitored very closely. Keep your child away from areas of potential harm.
If your child wants to sleep, place them on their side with their chin up. Wake your child every hour and encourage them to have something to drink in order to prevent dehydration. At first, it is best to give your child sips of clear liquids to prevent nausea. The first meal should be light and easily digestible.
If your child vomits, help them bend over and turn their head to the side to ensure that they do not inhale the vomit.
Prior to leaving the hospital/outpatient center, you will be given a detailed list of “Post-Op Instructions” and an emergency contact number if needed.
We’re 100% Committed
To Your Safety
Each member of our team is 100 percent committed to making you feel comfortable, providing gentle and stress-free care, and creating the relaxed environment necessary for positive dental visits. Dr. Tong is trained and certified to administer IV sedation and monitors patient safety throughout the entire procedure. He can help you choose the right level of sedation to vanquish any fears, however minor or severe. To ensure complete comfort during dental treatment in our Gaithersburg, MD, practice, we are pleased to offer complimentary nitrous oxide to all patients!
Frequently Asked Questions
About Dental Sedation
IV Sedation: With IV sedation, Dr. Tong will set up an IV drip which will keep your child continuously sedated during treatment. Your child will be asleep during the entire procedure and will retain all normal reflexes and breathing throughout the treatment.
Oral Sedation: With oral sedation, your child will be given a small pill to take 1 hour before arriving at the appointment. Your child will be feeling very drowsy by the time you arrive.
Nitrous: With Nitrous Oxide, or laughing gas, a mask is placed over your child’s face which allows them to breathe a mixture of oxygen and gas, which relaxes them for the procedure. These effects generally wear off quickly.
Dental Emergency
There’s little that’s as painful as a tooth or jaw ache, so call us any time to schedule an emergency appointment. Our doctors and team love our patients and want what’s best for you, so call us today for an emergency appointment!
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