Not all parents are aware that we offer in office IV
sedation. It’s an important tool that is
ideal for patients with issues or concerns such as strong dental phobia,
extensive treatment needs, a strong gag reflex, infection, children with special
needs, and/or very young children who are not yet able to sit still long enough
to have their treatment completed.
If ever a child presents with one or more of the situations
above, we will always discuss the treatment options available to you and your
child. If sedation is appropriate to
help us to eliminate your child’s dental disease, it offers several
benefits. All dental work can be
completed in one visit. We greatly
reduce the potential of worsening any dental anxiety or phobia during your child’s
treatment. If you have a super wiggly
little one our office finds it offers better outcomes and success rates for
their care.
During your child’s IV sedation appointment the medications
work quickly and reliably. This form of
sedation is less invasive than the type we use in the hospital under general
anesthesia requiring no tubes be inserted into your child’s throat. Your child will be breathing on their own
which allows for a quicker recovery as compared to general anesthesia in the
hospital setting. Typically, within
20-30 minutes. All of this is done in
the familiar setting of our office.
Our staff does not perform the sedation services. We work closely with Pediatric Dental
Anesthesia Associates (PDAA) as we feel this option offers the highest level of
care that we can provide in our office for your child's dental sedation needs. A pediatric anesthesiologist is a medical
doctor who has completed 4 years of college, then 4 years of medical school,
followed by 4-5 years of training in anesthesiology including specialty
training in pediatric (infants and children) anesthesiology. This typically
includes more than 12,000 hours of clinical training. PDAA’s anesthesiologists
receive some of the highest level of training available, so you can be assured
your child receives the safest care. Our
office works primarily with Dr. Hector Vila from PDAA who has been certified by
the American Board of Anesthesiology since 1994. He is considered an expert in the area of
patient safety. All anesthesia services
are billed directly through PDAA and they have a wonderful team to help you
with that process.
Please click the link for a brief IV sedation tour from
PDAA.
The cost of an in office IV sedation appointment is, on
average, about 80% lower than that of an in-hospital sedation. These services are not typically covered by
dental insurance but may be covered by your medical insurance depending on your
plan. With that said, some insurances
favor in hospital general anesthesia over in office IV sedation. Your out of pocket costs could vary depending
on your medical plan. We can help you
with the information you would need to allow you to have a meaningful
conversation with your insurer to help you make the choice that is right for
you. PDAA is your primary resource for
any questions you may have about coverage for their services.
Whatever your child’s dental needs we will always look at
ways to help you prevent further decay in the future. There are many causes of decay beyond the
consumption of obvious forms of sugar like candy and sugary drinks. Some foods convert to sugars after consumption,
the pH of your child’s mouth can contribute to decay. There are also medical conditions we can help
to identify that influence your child’s dental health. We can review and advise you on ways to
adjust your home hygiene routine. Our
main concern is preventing new decay where ever possible. Whatever you child’s dental needs may be, we
are here to help.
Michelle - Certified Dental Assistant
Michelle - Certified Dental Assistant
