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ÃÛÌÒAPP > Services > Children’s dentistry > Inhalation sedation for your child’s dental treatment

Inhalation sedation for your child’s dental treatment

ÃÛÌÒAPP

If your child has been offered inhalation sedation for their dental treatment this information explains more about the sedation appointment.

What is Inhalation Sedation?

Inhalation sedation involves breathing ‘happy air’ – nitrous oxide and oxygen – through a small nose mask. The ‘happy air’ will make your child feel more relaxed and able to cope with dental treatment. Your child will not go to sleep.

The sedation may make your child feel pleasantly light headed, floaty and warm and can cause a slight tingling in the hands and feet.

Once your child is ready to start treatment, a local anaesthetic will be used to numb the tooth to be treated to make sure the procedure is comfortable.

It your child develops a cold on the appointment day we will not be able to carry out treatment. Please ring the department on the number at the bottom of this page to rearrange another appointment.

Arrangements before the appointment

Your child should:

  • Have a light meal two hours before the appointment (for example sandwich/slice of toast) then no food or drink to be taken until after the appointment.
  • Attend with an adult who must not be in charge of any other children under 12 years of age.
  • Travel home in a car or taxi, not public transport.

What will happen at the appointment?

  • Your child and one parent or guardian will be brought into the clinic by the nurse.
  • The doctor or nurse will show your child the small nose piece and let them try it on.
  • The sedation ‘happy air’ will be turned on slowly and may take up to five minutes to work. The doctor will talk to your child to help them relax.
  • When your child is ready to start treatment, local anaesthetic will be placed next to the tooth to make it numb.
  • At the end of treatment the ’happy air’ will be switched off and your child allowed to breath oxygen. This will make them feel back to normal/alert.
  • When your child feels steady on their feet, they will be allowed to return home.
  • The appointment will last about 45 minutes.

If your child has any problems after the visit

Between 8.30am to 5.00pm: telephone the sedation department on 0191 2825306

After 5.00pm: telephone the hospital switchboard on 0191 2336161 and ask for the oral and maxillofacial senior house officer, or NHS 111.

During the visit to the sedation department if you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to ask the sedation nurse or clinician who will be more than happy to help.

If you need any further help or information please do not hesitate to contact us on:

  • Tel: 0191 282 5306
  • Fax: 0191 282 4439

Our address is sedation department, ÃÛÌÒAPP Dental Hospital, Richardson Road, ÃÛÌÒAPP upon Tyne, NE2 4AZ

The Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) can offer on-the-spot advice and information about the NHS. You can contact them on freephone 0800 032 02 02 or e-mail [email protected]