Pediatric anesthesia
Pediatric dental anesthesia.
Young children often cannot cooperate for dental treatment, and asking them to try can turn a manageable problem into a lasting fear of the dentist. Dr. Rad provides general anesthesia for children so that treatment is completed in one visit, comfortably, and without memory of the procedure.
Why anesthesia is used
Why a child may need general anesthesia for dental treatment
One visit instead of many difficult ones. A child who cannot sit through treatment awake may need several appointments, each more distressing than the last, and treatment may still go unfinished. Under general anesthesia the entire treatment plan can usually be completed in a single appointment.
Children wake with no memory of the procedure, which matters a great deal for how they feel about dental care for the rest of their lives.
Dr. Rad holds California general anesthesia permit MGA 390 with a pediatric endorsement from the Dental Board of California, and maintains current PALS certification alongside ACLS and BLS.
He performs the pre-operative evaluation himself, reviewing the child's medical history, medications, prior anesthesia, and airway before the day of treatment.
What parents should expect
How to prepare a child, and what recovery looks like
Parents receive fasting instructions before the appointment and are asked about any recent illness, since a cold or fever may mean rescheduling. Dr. Rad discusses the plan with the family beforehand and answers questions directly.
Children are monitored continuously throughout treatment and remain under observation until they are awake, stable, and ready to go home. Written aftercare instructions are provided, and Dr. Rad remains reachable afterward.
Related: special needs dental anesthesia, and dental anesthesiology more generally.
See how a case is run from the first call through discharge, or read the answers to questions parents ask.
Contact
Arrange care for a child.
Parents and dental practices reach Dr. Rad the same way. Questions about preparing a child for anesthesia are answered directly.