Sedation
Nitrous Oxide
Children who have not had dental treatment or are anxious about dental treatment may benefit from nitrous oxide sedation. It is used to help alleviate anxiety and discomfort, and promote a positive experience during dental treatment.
A child will typically wear a nose mask and breathe in a mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen gases. The child remains awake and is able to communicate all the time. Once dental treatment is complete the gas is turned off and the effects of nitrous oxide will wear off within minutes. Nitrous oxide is one of the most commonly used forms of sedation in paediatric dentistry and has no known adverse effects on a child’s growth and development.
It is an excellent alternative for general anaesthesia and allows a range of treatments to be carried out happily in even anxious children. However it may not be effective for some children, this may be due to young age, severe anxiety or extensive treatment need. For these children we may offer to complete all necessary treatment at one visit under general anaesthesia. This treatment is completed on a day care basis at the Whitfield Clinic in Waterford or the Bon Secours Hospital in Cork.
Clonmel Children’s Dental Clinic is the dental practice of Dr. Eimear Norton. We provide specialized dentistry for children and adolescents in a child-friendly environment.