Pediatric sedation dentistry helps children who are anxious, very young, or need more extensive treatment get the care they need in a calm, comfortable way.
We will always recommend the most conservative treatment options available to your child, and we seek to use non-invasive procedures whenever possible. However, there are times when your child may need to be sedated to care for them properly. Ultimately, their safety and comfort are our utmost concern.
no sedation
Nitrous Oxide
Moderate Conscious Sedation
General anesthesia
Nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas, is a gentle and safe gas used during most dental procedures. It helps to reduce discomfort, anxiety, and strong gag reflexes. While on nitrous oxide, your child will be awake and responsive throughout the procedure, but in a more relaxed state. Every team member at Carolina Pediatric Dentistry is nitrous oxide certified, which means we are all trained to monitor your child while they are on nitrous oxide.
Because the effects of nitrous oxide are short-lived, your child can return to their normal daily activities right away. Very rarely does a child have side effects from nitrous oxide. Normally, side effects of nitrous oxide are limited to nausea, headaches, dizziness, and confusion. Our team can help you decide if nitrous oxide sedation is the right option for you!
Moderate sedation could be an option for your child if they have limited treatment needs, but are too anxious or afraid for nitrous oxide sedation to be effective. Various medications can be used to sedate a child and are selected based on your child’s age, weight, and treatment needs.
The medications are orally administered at our office and require some time to take effect. In addition to the oral medications, nitrous oxide gas will be used to help achieve an ideal level of sedation. Most children become relaxed and drowsy and may drift into a light sleep from which they can be easily aroused. Unlike general anesthesia, sedation is not intended to make a child unconscious or unresponsive. Some children may not experience relaxation but an opposite reaction, such as agitation or crying. This response to the medication may prevent us from being able to complete the planned procedure.
At Carolina Pediatric Dentistry, we always have a second pediatric dentist in the room during the sedation to monitor your child and ensure their safety at all times. After treatment is complete, your child will be able to go home once they are alert. The after-effects of moderate sedation can last for the remainder of the day and include drowsiness, impaired motor skills, and nausea or vomiting.
Not all children are ideal moderate sedation candidates, and we can help you decide if moderate sedation is the safest and best option for your child.
General anesthesia ensures that your child remains completely unconscious and unaware during their dental treatment. It involves administering medications through an IV line and breathing gases through a mask to induce a deep sleep-like state. General anesthesia is administered by an anesthesiologist, a specially trained doctor who monitors your child throughout the procedure to ensure their safety and well-being.
Under general anesthesia, your child will not feel any pain, and they will not be able to move or remember what happens during the procedure. After the procedure is complete, the effects of the anesthesia wear off gradually, and your child will wake up in a recovery area under careful supervision until they are fully alert and able to go home. The after-effects of general anesthesia can last up to 24 hours. They may include drowsiness, temporary amnesia, nausea or vomiting, and impaired motor skills.
While general anesthesia is generally safe, it does carry some risks, so it’s essential to follow the instructions provided by our office and the anesthesiologist, and discuss any concerns you may have.
We are delighted to offer general anesthesia services at three convenient locations, prioritizing the ease and comfort of your family.
Raleigh Children’s Surgery Center
2620 New Bern Avenue
Raleigh, NC 27610
Carolina Pediatric Dentistry Downtown Raleigh
510 Glenwood Avenue, #110
Raleigh, NC 27603
WakeMed Raleigh Campus
3000 New Bern Avenue
Raleigh, NC 27610
General anesthesia at Carolina Pediatric Dentistry Downtown Raleigh is provided by Dr. Benjamin Pritts, a Diplomate of the American Dental Board of Anesthesiology.
Dr. Pritts is a Board-Certified Dentist Anesthesiologist. He is a diplomate of the American Dental Board of Anesthesiology. This is the highest level of anesthesia training achievable in the field of dentistry.
Dr. Benjamin Pritts grew up in rural southwestern Pennsylvania. He attended dental school at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine, where he became an award winning dental student, graduated at the top 5% of his class, and was inducted into the prestigious national honor society, Omicron Kappa Upsilon (OKU).
Upon graduating dental school, Dr. Pritts immediately began his specialty training in a 3 year Dental Anesthesiology residency at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). In addition to the extensive anesthesia training specifically for patients undergoing oral and maxillofacial procedures, he trained with his medical colleagues at two Level 1 trauma hospitals (UPMC Presbyterian and Mercy), UPMC Children’s Hospital, UPMC Magee Women’s Hospital, UPMC St. Margaret, as well as clinical rotations with: Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Neurotrauma ICU, Internal Medicine, and Cardiology.
Dr. Pritts has years of private practice experience, and has delivered high quality and safe office based anesthesia care for thousands of dental patients. He also serves as an adjunct clinical professor in anesthesiology for the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine Department of Dental Anesthesiology. Additionally, he serves on several committees for both the American Dental Board of Anesthesiology and the American Society of Dentist Anesthesiologists.
Dr. Pritts enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters. In his spare time, Dr. Pritts enjoys snowboarding, relaxing at the beach, hiking, gardening, supporting a healthy life style, and surfing.
If you think your child may benefit from sedation for their next visit, our team is here to talk through the options and find the right fit for your child’s needs. We’re currently accepting new patients at both our Wake Forest/North Raleigh and Downtown Raleigh locations.
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