Some children require additional support to manage anxiety, discomfort or the demands of dental treatment.

Depending on the child’s age, health, anxiety level, treatment requirements and ability to cooperate, available approaches may include:

• Computer-aided gentle injections
• Nitrous oxide sedation, commonly known as Happy Gas
• Intravenous sedation
• General anaesthesia in a hospital or day-surgery setting

The appropriate option is determined individually and discussed with parents or caregivers before treatment.

Computer-aided dental injection systems are designed to deliver local anaesthetic in a controlled and gradual manner.

For children who are worried about injections, careful administration of local anaesthetic can make dental treatment more comfortable and predictable.

Our team also uses child-friendly communication and behavioural techniques alongside local anaesthesia to help children feel safe and in control.

The aim is to provide effective pain control while minimising anxiety around dental injections.

Nitrous oxide sedation is a commonly used technique to help some children feel more relaxed during dental treatment.

The child breathes a mixture containing nitrous oxide and oxygen through a small nasal mask.

It can help reduce anxiety and improve a child’s ability to cope with dental treatment while allowing them to remain conscious and responsive.

Nitrous oxide is not appropriate for every child. We assess the child’s age, health, anxiety level and treatment requirements before recommending it.

We will explain how the sedation works and what your child should expect before treatment.

Intravenous, or IV, sedation involves administering medication through a vein to produce a controlled state of relaxation and reduced anxiety. IV sedation is administered by our anaesthetic colleagues within our dental clinic setting, where your child will be monitored carefully throughout the procedure.

It may be considered for selected older children or adolescents who require additional support with dental treatment.

The suitability of IV sedation depends on the child’s medical history, treatment requirements, anxiety level and ability to cooperate.

Appropriate monitoring and safety protocols are essential when sedation is provided.

General anaesthesia may be considered when extensive or complex dental treatment cannot be safely or realistically completed while the child is awake.

It may be appropriate for children who:

• Are very young and unable to cooperate with extensive treatment
• Have severe dental anxiety
• Have significant special healthcare needs
• Require extensive dental treatment
• Have previously had difficulty tolerating necessary treatment
• Require treatment that cannot reasonably be completed using other approaches

We carefully assess the child’s dental needs, medical history, developmental stage and available alternatives when considering treatment under general anaesthesia.

Your child’s safety is the highest priority. General anaesthesia is a safe, reliable and effective option which we have used to help many children receive the dental treatment they require.

When general anaesthesia is required, treatment is performed in an appropriate hospital or accredited day-surgery setting with the necessary anaesthetic and medical support.

No.

Sedation and general anaesthesia are only considered when clinically appropriate.

Many children can successfully receive dental treatment using communication, behavioural guidance, gradual familiarisation and local anaesthesia.

Where additional support is needed, we consider the least intensive appropriate option that can provide safe and effective treatment.

The decision is based on the individual child rather than simply their level of anxiety.