Most children get through dental visits with nothing more than a patient team, a clear explanation, and a parent nearby. Some need more help than that. A child who is very anxious, very young, or facing a lot of treatment may do far better with nitrous oxide or with general anesthesia.
Here is what each option involves and how Dr. Dan Truong decides which, if either, fits your child.
Nitrous oxide: relaxed, but awake
Nitrous oxide, often called laughing gas, is a mild sedative your child breathes through a small mask over the nose. Within a few minutes most children feel calm, light, or a bit giggly. Your child stays awake, can talk to us, and can follow simple directions the whole time.
At the end of the visit, your child breathes plain oxygen for a few minutes and the effects clear quickly. Most children go back to school or their usual day afterwards.
Nitrous oxide tends to suit children who are:
- Mildly to moderately nervous about the dentist
- Bothered by a strong gag reflex
- Facing a longer appointment, such as several fillings
- Old enough and willing to keep the nose mask on
General anesthesia: fully asleep, in our office
Some children need to be fully asleep for treatment. That usually means very young children with a lot of work needed, children with special needs or medical complexity, or children whose anxiety makes treatment while awake unworkable.
For many families, general anesthesia for dental care means a hospital operating room, which can take a long time to schedule. At Smile Gallery, an anesthesiologist comes to our office instead. The anesthesiologist puts your child to sleep and monitors breathing, heart rate, and oxygen throughout, while Dr. Truong completes the dental treatment in one visit.
For your family, that means:
- A familiar office and a team your child already knows
- No hospital admission or operating room waitlist
- A dedicated anesthesiologist whose only job is your child's safety while asleep
- All of the planned treatment done in a single visit
How we decide
Neither option is a default. Dr. Truong looks at your child's age, health history, how much treatment is needed, and how your child has handled visits before. You hear why an option is being suggested, what the alternatives are, and what preparation is involved, before anything is booked.
Questions parents ask
Will my child be asleep with laughing gas?
No. Nitrous oxide relaxes your child, but they stay awake and responsive. General anesthesia is the option where your child is fully asleep.
Does my child need to fast beforehand?
For general anesthesia, yes, and the instructions must be followed exactly. For nitrous oxide, a light meal a couple of hours before is usually best. We give you specific instructions for either when we book.
Can I stay with my child?
With nitrous oxide, yes. With general anesthesia, you are with your child before they fall asleep and nearby when they wake up.
Talk to us about your child
If your child has struggled at the dentist before, tell us when you book. Call (916) 782-5503. Smile Gallery Pediatric Dentistry, 568 N Sunrise Ave STE 350, Roseville, CA 95661.