ANESTHESIA

If your child suffers from dental anxiety they are not alone!  It is very common to be afraid to visit the dentist.  Let's face it many adults are too!  Here at ToothStars we do our very best to ensure that your child is put at ease and feels comfortable coming to our office. However, receiving dental treatment can sometimes be challenging due to overwhelming fear or anxiety, so we recommend a particular management technique based on your child's level of apprehension.

At ToothStars we offer two methods of Advanced Behavior Management techniques:

Nitrous Oxide:

More commonly known as 'laughing gas' which involves a colorless and an odorless gas inhaled through a mask placed over the child's nose to help them relax through their dental procedure, without putting them to sleep.  It makes for a fun appointment and relieves the anxiety which many children face during a dental treatment.  We are specifically trained to tailor the dosage of nitrous oxide to your child to ensure their maximum safety throughout the procedure.  The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recognizes this technique to be safe and effective for children's dental needs.

Nitrous oxide is the most frequently used management technique to help put your child at ease at the dental office, if they have mild to moderate anxiety.  Once the mask is placed over the child's nose, they will be encouraged to breathe through their nose and not through their mouth.  As the gas begins to take effect, your child will become relaxed, floaty, calm and may even start to giggle! At the end of your child's appointment, they will breathe regular oxygen and the laughing gas is quickly eliminated from the body when the mask is removed.  As your child gets older and becomes more comfortable during dental visits, nitrous oxide may not be necessary.

Prior to your appointment, please inform us:

• If there are any changes to your child's health and medical condition, including any new medications.
• If your child is suffering from any respiratory condition that makes breathing through their nose difficult.
• If your child has an ear infection
• If your child is or may be pregnant

General Anesthesia:

General Anesthesia is usually recommended to children who have comprehensive dental needs, have high anxiety, are very young, or they have special needs and cannot tolerate treatment in the chair.  General anesthesia puts your child completely to sleep so that they are completely unaware of the dental treatment being performed.

This form of management is administered by an anesthesiologist who uses precise medications to keep your child in a safe and controlled unconscious state.  Then, Dr.Reena will perform all the necessary dental treatment either in a hospital setting (Central DuPage Hospital) as an outpatient procedure.  Alternatively, we can have a board certified Anesthesiologist come to the office to administer the general anesthesia and procedure being performed in the comfort of our own office.  The benefits of general anesthesia is that the child can have all their treatment completed in one visit. They are completely unaware of any dental procedure that takes place and more importantly treatment is carried out safely and to the highest standard possible. Dr. Reena believes that it is of upmost importance to protect the psyche of her patients and wants to make sure that your child always feels comfortable going to the dentist as they transition into the adult world.

Prior to your appointment:

• Please inform us of any changes to your child's health and medical condition, including any new medications. 
• Call the office if your child has a fever, ear infection or if they have a cold.  If your child is ill, please call the office to see if it is necessary to reschedule.
• Please make sure your child wears loose fitting comfortable clothes.
• No solid food or milk after midnight. Prior to the day of your appointment, clear liquids (water) up to 6 hours prior to the appointment.
• The parent/legal guardian must remain on site (either at the hospital or the dental office) during the dental procedure.