Sedation Dentistry in Northborough, MA

Many years of experience show us that each child’s reaction to dental treatment is as unique as they are. Dr. Jolanta Macdonald and our team do everything possible to help your child stay comfortable, but situations may arise where we need to take extra steps to keep them calm.

We understand that the idea of sedating your child may cause you concern. But rest assured that we have been providing our young patients with safe, effective sedation dental options for many years with excellent results.

Nitrous Oxide Sedation 

Nitrous oxide (laughing gas) is recognized by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry as a safe, effective technique for reducing anxiety in children. Nitrous oxide will not put your child to sleep, but it will keep them calm so that we can maximize the time that they spend in the dental chair.

Another benefit of nitrous oxide sedation is that it takes effect quickly and usually dissipates within a couple minutes after treatment with no after-effects. A member of our professional team will be by your child’s side at all times to support them and monitor their progress. The only precaution is that your child should not drink or eat an hour before treatment.

In-Hospital Sedation Dentistry

In some cases, it’s easier for your child if we use general anesthesia. We are affiliated with Boston Children’s Hospital at Lexington, where we will treat your child in a highly controlled setting.

General anesthesia is very helpful in a number of situations:

• Your child is very young and needs multiple procedures.
• Your child needs more complex treatment like a root canal or tooth extraction.

With general anesthesia, your child will go into a deep sleep. This will keep them comfortable and prevent them from moving around so that your dentist can work most efficiently.

In-Office General Anesthesia

Depending on the provisions of your insurance policy, in-hospital dental treatment may not be covered. In this case, we can offer you convenient general anesthesia here in our Northborough dentist office. We are partnered with an anesthesiologist who visits our office by appointment, and you can be confident that your child is in the hands of a qualified specialist.

Contact Us to Learn More About Sedation Dentistry in Northborough

The type of sedation we choose for your child depends on their needs and the type of treatment to be performed. Not every sedation method is right for every child, and Dr. Macdonald will spend the time necessary to explore your options so that you’re completely comfortable with your decision.

If we decide that sedation is appropriate for your child, you can be confident that we will be there to support you both throughout the procedure. We will be happy to answer all your questions about sedation. Please contact our dentist office for more information.