Sedation for Children in Apple Valley, MN
Our goal at Carousel Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics is to always provide your child with the most comfortable, pain-free treatment possible. Even so, there are cases where a nervous child can benefit from dental sedation.
Dr. Kyle and Dr. Katie have specialized training in safely administering sedation dentistry to children of all ages. Your child can comfortably get the high-quality care they need in a familiar environment surrounded by people they know and trust.
Benefits of Sedation Dentistry for Kids
Pediatric sedation dentistry in Apple Valley, MN, can help your child feel more relaxed and at ease during dental appointments. Our sedation dentistry can make their experience more stress-free and safe. Here's how.
Calms Anxiety
Sedation helps kids relax and feel comfortable during their visit. They can feel calm and peaceful instead of scared and worried.
Making Visits Easier
For kids who find it hard to sit still or follow instructions, sedation helps them stay calm and cooperative. This means we can work smoothly and quickly.
Fewer Dental Visits
With sedation, we can often complete several treatments in just one visit. That means less time in the dental chair and more time for fun.
Frequently Asked Questions
The American Society of Anesthesiologists recommend the following guidelines for fasting prior to dental surgery under general anesthesia: At Carousel Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, we offer minimally invasive dentistry just for your child. 
- Up to 2 hours prior to procedure – clear liquids allowed
- Up to 4 hours prior to procedure – breast milk allowed
- Up to 6 hours prior to procedure – infant formula, non-human milk, light meal allowed
- 8+ hours prior to procedure – fried foods, fatty foods, meat allowed
*a light meal consists of toast and clear liquid
Call Us With Further Questions!
If you would like to learn more about general anesthesia or other questions, call Carousel Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics. Our dental team can't wait to meet you and the entire family.
The Carousel Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics team caters to nervous children, helping them enjoy their time in our dental office.
Our dental professionals adopt a gentle hand and are especially good at easing your child's fears. We
can talk to them about their treatment, make sure they're familiar with the dental instruments, and even make their time with us fun.
Our Dental Team Builds Trusting Relationships
Your child's dentist in Apple Valley, MN builds trusting relationships with our young patients, and they are typically excited to visit our dental office.
We also work to meet the needs of differently-abled children, ensuring that they thrive in the dental setting.
We can talk to you about sedation dentistry for children who are especially anxious—having an invasive procedure or multiple treatments.
Besides anesthesia, we offer nitrous oxide (laughing or happy gas) and IV sedation as needed. We take a thorough health history for IV sedation before giving the green light, especially for new patients who have no health information on file.
Contact Your Pediatric Dentist Near Me
We want your child to love coming to the dentist, and we take steps to make that a reality. Of course, no two children are the same, but we can learn what puts your child at ease.
To schedule an appointment or, if you have questions, give us a call today.
Yes! Nitrous oxide is odorless and provides a very mild sedative effect to relax a child and help provide a positive dental experience. Our dental team has found that nitrous oxide and a favorite movie is a great combination in relieving anxiety and providing a needed distraction from the dental procedure. Nitrous oxide does not put your child to sleep and has a rapid onset and recovery. At the end of the dental
procedure, your child will breathe 100 percent oxygen for five minutes, eliminating all effects of the nitrous oxide. There are no restrictions on activity or diet following administration of nitrous oxide.
Learn More By Calling Our Dental Office
If you think your child could benefit from sedation dentistry in Apple Valley, call us! Our dental team can't wait to meet you and the entire family.
At Carousel Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, we often see very fearful and anxious children and understand how frustrating this can be for parents. You can be confident, however, that with our gentle, reassuring approach, most of these children become excellent dental patients once we have gained their trust.
Benefits of Choosing a Pediatric Dentist in Apple Valley
In fact, one of the benefits of choosing a pediatric dentist in Apple Valley is that they have years of training and clinical experience in responding to the unique and diverse personalities of young patients of all ages.
However, many of these children can also benefit from the use of dental sedation or general anesthesia. Using sedation dentistry, very anxious children, those who need complex dental treatment, or who have special health care needs can receive dental treatment in a safe, stress-free manner.
Parents in Apple Valley appreciate having a pediatric dentist who has advanced training in working with children’s unique and varied needs. We treat children of all ages at Carousel Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, and Dr. Katie and Dr. Kyle are skilled at developing relationships that put them at ease and make oral health care a positive experience for them.
Call Our Apple Valley, MN Dentist Office To Learn More
If you have a young child who needs a dental examination or treatment, and you’re concerned about how receptive they’ll be, call us to schedule an appointment. We would be happy to discuss sedation options that allow him or her to have a positive experience and continue building trust and confidence during their routine checkups.
Your child’s safety is our top priority. Some children with medical conditions or special health care needs
are best treated in a hospital setting, such as Children’s Hospital – St. Paul. However, most healthy children are excellent candidates for general anesthesia administered by a board certified pediatric anesthesiologist right in our office at Carousel Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics. This means that our anesthesiologist is the same kind of provider that delivers anesthesia care in a children's hospital setting!
What Do Pediatric Anesthesiologists Do?
Pediatric anesthesiologists are medical specialists who have completed a minimum of 4 years of anesthesia residency training, as well as an additional fellowship in pediatric anesthesia, and bring to our dental office everything that is needed to ensure your child’s safety including all anesthesia equipment and trained nursing staff.
Call To Book A Consultation To Learn More
Do you think your child may need dental care with general anesthesia? Contact Carousel Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics to arrange a consultation today. We welcome any and all questions you may have about your child's dental care.
Types of Sedation We Offer at Carousel Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics
We offer three levels of dental sedation to accommodate the unique needs of our young patients. Using sedation allows your child to receive dental treatment in a safe, stress-free manner, and helps us work on building their trust and confidence.
Not every sedation method is right for every child, and the type we recommend depends on the kind of treatment we need to perform. Our goal is to provide all of the information you need to understand your options so that you feel comfortable and confident with our recommendations.
Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas)
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recognizes nitrous oxide as a safe and effective sedation method for reducing a child’s dental anxiety. Nitrous oxide will not put your child to sleep but will help them remain calm and drowsy throughout their appointment.
Parents appreciate that the effects of nitrous oxide dissipate within a few minutes of completing treatment allowing your child to leave our office feeling alert and comfortable.
In-Office IV Sedation and General Anesthesia
Some children require more profound relaxation than nitrous oxide can provide. We partner with a board-certified pediatric anesthesiologist to safely administer general anesthesia for your child, right in the convenient setting of our Apple Valley dental office.
Your child will be fully asleep for the entire procedure, and the anesthesiologist and nursing staff monitor your child continuously to ensure their safety and comfort. General anesthesia enables our dentists to complete all of the needed treatment safely and comprehensively during a single appointment, while alleviating fear and anxiety which can have a lasting impact on your child's attitude towards future dental appointments.
There are certain cases where a child can benefit from general anesthesia. Children who require complex or lengthy dental procedures, have high anxiety, or those with sensory challenges are often excellent candidates for general anesthesia. This is the same form of anesthesia that is typically recommended for common medical procedures such as placing ear tubes and tonsilectomy.
We also offer hospital-based general anesthesia as needed.
Meet Our Doctors:
Katie Nordeen DDS MS MSD
Board Certified Pediatric Dentist and Orthodontist
Dr. Katie loves building lasting relationships with the wonderful families at Carousel Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics. As one of only a handful of dual-trained specialists in pediatric dentistry and orthodontics, Dr. Katie is proud to ...
Kyle Nordeen DDS
Board Certified Pediatric Dentist
Dr. Kyle is proud to care for the children of Apple Valley and the surrounding communities! As a parent of three young children, Dr. Kyle understands that patience, kindness, and fun can play a crucial ...
Can Your Child Benefit from Sedation Dentistry at Carousel Pediatric Dentistry?
Sedation dentistry isn’t right for every child in every case. But when used as needed, it is very effective and has helped many children comfortably and safely receive the dental treatment they need to maintain healthy smiles.
Please call Carousel Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics so we can review your child’s needs and determine if sedation is right for them.
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