Sedation
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Sedation
Sedation Dentistry refers to the use
Sedation
Sedation Dentistry refers to the use of sedation during dental treatment. At our practice, we understand that young children and some older children might find dental treatment quite difficult to cope with. We offer treatment using Nitrous Oxide/Oxygen sedation and treatment under General Aesthetic (at the St Andrews War Memorial Day Hospital). Some of the questions that need to be asked prior to deciding if sedation is required for your child include:
- Is your child old enough to cope with treatment in the chair?
- What was their previous dental history?
- Does your child require complex dental treatment?
- How long can your child sit still in the chair?
- How long can your child keep their mouth open?
- Is your child able to tolerate local anesthetic?
- Does your child have a strong gag reflex?
- How many teeth need treatment?
- Which option allows for the highest standard of treatment?
a- Nitrous Oxide Sedation
Nitrous oxide also known as Laughing gas is a form of sedation that is particularly useful to alleviate anxiety in older children for simple procedures of short duration. A certain degree of patient co-operation is required for this technique to be successful.
Using a special mask that fits over the nose, your child will inhale nitrous oxide. The gas will begin to work within a few minutes and often gives a relaxed feeling. Nitrous oxide is effective, safe, and the effects are reversed quickly at the completion of treatment.
b- General Anaesthesia
If your child is young, anxious, requires extensive or complex dental treatment, has special needs and has a strong gag reflex, treatment under general anaesthetic should be considered.
General anaesthesia means that your child is fully asleep. This approach of treatment allows all treatment and x-rays to be completed in one appointment, where 4-5 appointments with local anaesthetic/nitrous oxide may be required in the dental surgery.
The average time taken for comprehensive treatment under GA is around 1.5 hours. This mode of treatment will minimise your child having a negative experience and developing dental phobias. Many adults who are anxious about dental treatment usually have had a negative childhood experience. Children have a lifetime of dental visits to come!
Dental treatment under general anaesthetic is performed by Dr Sobia at the St Andrews War Memorial Hospital, where Dr Sobia is fully registered and accredited as a specialist paediatric dentist. The general anaesthetic is administered by a member of our team of highly qualified specialist anaesthetists with years of experience in paediatric care. You can be rest assured your child will be well looked after. Please contact our practice should you require more information regarding our anaesthetic team.
Treatment Plan
At the initial comprehensive consultation, you will be provided with a treatment plan estimate (with health fund item numbers). Please be aware that the treatment is an estimate only and can vary depending on what is found at the time of the general anaesthetic. If radiographs are to be taken at the time of the surgery, a change in the treatment plan is more likely. If extra payment is required due to a change in the treatment plan. This is due after your child’s surgery. If we do less treatment than expected, you will be reimbursed the difference in cost.
If your child requires treatment under general anaesthetic, our staff will go through the required paperwork, including information sheet, consents, and information about where and when the surgery will be undertaken.
Booking your child's theatre date
To book your child’s spot at hospital, a non-refundable $300 deposit is taken. This is payable via credit card in person or over the phone, as well as via Direct Debit.
The remaining Dental Treatment Fee is payable 07 days prior to surgery. If your child becomes unwell, please let us know immediately, and we can organise to reschedule your child’s theatre date. We generally require 70% of the estimated cost prior to the surgery. If this is not paid prior to surgery, your child’s theatre date will be rescheduled even if the $300 deposit has been paid.
General Anaesthetic Fees
Treatment under general anaesthetic will incur three main costs:
- 1) Dental Treatment Fee (payable directly to i-Care paediatric dentistry)
- 2) Hospital Fee (payable directly to the hospital)
- 3) Anaesthetist Fee (payable directly to the anaesthetic group)
You will be provided with the contact details for the hospital as well as the anaesthetic
group. Please get in touch with the hospital and the anaesthetic groups directly to confirm
fees payable. The hospital and anaesthetic fees are payable prior to surgery.
Private Health Insurance
If your child holds private health insurance, please get in touch with your health fund if you would like to know how much they will reimburse. Your child’s treatment plan has the codes you need to provide to your health fund e.g. 022, 111, 121.
Extras will pay towards the dental treatment, and the hospital will contribute towards the hospital fee.
Some health funds do not charge an excess when children are admitted to the hospital, so it is worth checking with your health fund.
Once your child has had the dental treatment completed, an invoice will be emailed to you. You can then use this invoice to claim your rebate through your health fund.
Child Dental Benefit Schedule (CDBS)
Unfortunately the CDBS scheme does not contribute towards any dental treatment undertaken at the hospital.
Questions?
Going to hospital with your child can be a stressful and overwhelming process. We hope to make it as easy and straightforward as possible. If you have any questions at all, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us either via phone (07) 3343 3322 or email paedsdentga@gmail.com
