As a parent, your instinct is to protect your child from any discomfort or fear. When a pediatric dentist mentions that your child might need sedation or general anesthesia for dental treatment, it is natural to feel concerned. At Once Upon A Smile, we believe that clear communication and education of treatment options are the most effective ways to provide reassurance and build trust with families in South Barrington and the surrounding Northwest Chicagoland area.
We specialize in providing 4 different sedation options to complete comprehensive dental treatment for our young children or special needs children who are unable to tolerate treatment for extensive dental decay. Every parent is comfortable with different sedation options, so it is important to understand the details of all the sedation options available to make the right decision for your child. We are here to ensure that you understand the pros and cons of all 4 sedation options and that your child’s path to a healthy smile is as comfortable as possible.
When is Sedation the Right Choice?
In many cases, dental treatment can be completed using just a mild sedation such as nitrous oxide (laughing gas). However, some children require a deeper level of support to receive care safely and effectively. Sedation is often the most appropriate and compassionate option for children who:
- Require extensive dental treatment
- Would otherwise need multiple lengthy visits
- Experience significant dental anxiety or fear
- Have special healthcare needs that make it difficult to remain still
A helpful way to think about this is through efficiency and safety. Completing all necessary treatment in a single, controlled setting allows the dental team to work without interruption, improving both the quality and predictability of care.
For children with autism, sensory sensitivities, or prior difficult dental experiences, sedation can be especially valuable. Completing dental treatment under sedation is often the most compassionate choice for children who have significant dental needs that would require multiple, long appointments to fix. It allows treatment to be completed without added emotional stress, helping preserve a more positive perception of dental care moving forward.
Commitment to Safety
Safety is the foundation of everything we do. Our anesthesia protocols are designed to meet- and often exceed- established clinical guidelines. Before treatment, we conduct a comprehensive pre-operative evaluation at the consultation appointment to ensure your child is an appropriate candidate for anesthesia. Families are also given clear, detailed instructions for both pre- and post-operative care so you feel confident and prepared every step of the way. Our goal is a smooth, controlled experience—one where your child rests comfortably during treatment and wakes up with their dental needs fully addressed.
What are the sedation options offered at Once Upon A Smile Pediatric Dentistry?
There are 4 different sedation options to treat extensive dental caries in young children or children with special needs. Every child handles difficult dental treatment differently, and every parent has a unique vision on how treatment should be completed, so understanding all the options is essential to choose the right sedation option for your child.
There is no “one size fits all” sedation option. We have done baby tooth canals and stainless steel crowns on cooperative 3-year-olds with just nitrous (laughing gas), but then we have teenagers who won’t sit in the dental chair, so they need general anesthesia to complete dental treatment. Every child handles difficult treatments differently, and age doesn’t dictate the level of sedation needed. It is very important to understand the details about each option to choose the option that aligns with your vision for how you want the dental experience to be for your child.
We know this is a lot of information, but our team is happy to help you answer all your questions along the way! Our goal is the same as yours…for you to choose the right sedation path for you and your child.
- Nitrous Oxide (also known as “laughing gas”): This mild sedation is the most common way we complete dental treatment in children. This option is best for children who are mostly cooperative but just a little nervous. Nitrous oxide is only effective if the child allows the nose piece to stay on their nose and can breathe through their nose. It is not effective if the child starts crying, since then they are breathing through their mouth instead of their nose. We only complete nitrous appointments in the mornings since that is the time when children are the most cooperative. (All of us parents know that trying to get a hungry and tired child to cooperate after a long day at school is near impossible!) We also recommend a very light breakfast since laughing gas on a very full stomach can cause little stomachs to be upset. Once nitrous oxide is turned off, oxygen is turned on, and the patient returns back to feeling normal. Nitrous oxide is a great option for more cooperative children who are trying to complete dental treatment.
- Oral Conscious Sedation: This type of sedation is for anxious young healthy children who are unable to cooperate for dental treatment with just nitrous oxide alone. This option is best for children who are healthy with no medical conditions, between 30-40lbs, and will drink the oral medication. The medicine is a mix of Midazolam, Hydroxyzine, and Tylenol, and is calculated based on the patient’s weight. The child is not asleep; they are still completely awake (conscious) but are less than their normal alert selves. After drinking the medication, they may experience mixed emotional reactions. It is all dependent on the child’s personality. The child will most likely cry throughout the appointment, but the hope is that they don’t remember exactly what happened during the treatment and just have a partial memory. The child is placed in a papoose to keep their hands and feet from moving. A medical clearance will be required from their pediatrician. The amount of treatment completely depends on the child’s cooperativeness, so 2 or more appointments may be needed if the child is uncooperative and there are multiple quadrants of treatment.
- IV sedation: This type of deep sedation is provided by a board-certified pediatric anesthesiologist. While they do provide IV sedation at the dental office, they are a separate company/provider than the OUAS team. All proposed dental treatments will be completed via an IV sedation.
- General Anesthesia at St. Alexius: This sedation option is general anesthesia, which is provided by a pediatric anesthesiologist at St. Alexius Medical Center. Your OUAS pediatric dentist and team will meet you and your child at St. Alexius, and all proposed dental treatment is completed in one appointment while the child is under general anesthesia. This type of sedation is different from IV sedation because the child has an IV plus is intubated throughout the dental treatment and under the care of a pediatric anesthesiologist at St. Alexius Medical Center.
The “Once Upon A Smile” Difference
While many practices offer pediatric dental services, our focus extends beyond clinical care to the overall patient experience. We are intentional about creating an environment that feels welcoming, supportive, and reassuring for both children and parents. We aim to minimize fear and build positive associations with dental care by emphasizing kindness, communication, and a child-centered approach at every stage of the visit. Families from Hoffman Estates, South Barrington, Palatine, Schaumburg, Inverness, East Dundee, Deer Park, and more communities trust us to provide specialized care tailored to their child’s individual needs—whether that involves routine treatment or comprehensive care under anesthesia.
Choosing which type of anesthesia is an important decision. Our team is here to guide you through it with transparency and care. During your consultation, we will review all available options, along with the associated risks and benefits, so you can make an informed and confident decision. An informed parent plays a key role in helping a child feel secure—and that partnership is central to everything we do.
If you have questions about sedation or anesthesia for your child’s dental care, we encourage you to reach out. Our team is here to help you navigate the process with clarity and confidence. Contact our compassionate team at 847-882-2555 or email us at sboffice@ouaspeds.com to discuss your child’s needs.
Key Takeaways
- Compassionate Care: Anesthesia can reduce emotional stress during complex or lengthy procedures
- Efficiency: Treatment is often completed in a single, controlled visit
- Specialized Support: Particularly beneficial for children with anxiety or special healthcare needs
- Safety First: Continuous monitoring and strict clinical protocols are standard
Understanding the 4 sedation options to complete treatment on a child:
- Nitrous Oxide (laughing gas); The most common way we complete dental treatment on a child. The child is completely awake, but they feel like they are floating. Morning Appointment. Light breakfast. Best mild sedation for cooperative children.
- Oral Conscious Sedation: Must be a healthy child weighing between 30-40lbs and willing to drink the medicine. Medical clearance required from a pediatrician. Partial memory. Child placed in a papoose. The amount of treatment completed depends on the child’s level of cooperation. If the child is not cooperative, they may need 2 oral sedation appointments to complete the treatment plan.
- IV sedation: Administered by a pediatric anesthesiologist at the office via an IV. All treatment will be completed in one appointment in the office.
- General Anesthesia: Administered by a pediatric anesthesiologist at St. Alexius Medical Center. General anesthesia will be administered via an IV and intubation. All treatment will be completed in one appointment at the hospital.