Sedation and comfort
Comfort first. Sedation rarely.
Most children here never need sedation. Dr. Farooq relies on behavior guidance and nitrous oxide to ease anxiety, and reserves in-office sedation for the rare case where treatment has to happen and nothing else will work. Here is how each level works and who is watching.
Three levels
Behavior guidance first, nitrous oxide when needed, sedation rarely.
Dr. Farooq relies on behavior guidance and nitrous oxide analgesia to ease anxiety. In-office sedation is uncommon here, is never offered on request, and a first check-up is never sedated.
Behavior guidance
Every child. A nervous first visit, a child who needs to see each tool first, or one who does better with a parent in the room.
Tell, show, then do. A slower pace, plain words, breaks when your child needs them, and the same dentist every visit.
Nothing to recover from. Most children leave ready to come back.
Nitrous oxide
An anxious child, a strong gag reflex, or a longer procedure such as an extraction.
Breathed through a small mask over the nose. Your child stays awake, responsive, and talking through the visit.
Wears off within minutes after it is stopped. A normal day afterward.
Sedation, rarely
The uncommon child who cannot settle with guidance and nitrous oxide for treatment that has to happen. Needs beyond safe in-office care are referred to a hospital team.
Oral sedation given here in the office after a review of health history, with a second team member watching throughout. Hospital care is by referral only.
A quiet day at home. Dr. Farooq clears your child to leave, not the clock.
In the room
Who is watching, on what, and what is in the room.
On the rare day in-office sedation is used, written instructions on eating and drinking come when the visit is booked, and this is the order it happens in. Nothing on this list is skipped for any child.
- 01
Before anything is given
Health history and current medications are reviewed first. The dose is set by your child’s weight and health history, for that child on that day, and given here. It is never sent home with a parent.
- 02
A second set of eyes
A second team member is in the room whose only job is watching your child, for the whole visit. Not assisting with the treatment. Watching, and writing down the vitals.
- 03
Vitals and equipment
A pulse oximeter on your child, vitals recorded through the visit, and child-sized emergency equipment in the room, checked first.
- 04
Going home
Awake, responsive, and able to sit and drink. Dr. Farooq clears your child, not the clock. A second adult in the car when possible, then a quiet day and soft food.
Before you agree to sedation
Comfort options, explained.
What parents ask before choosing sedation.
Is sedation safe for a toddler?
The answer is the protocol. Dr. Farooq reviews health history first and sets the dose by weight for that child on that day. A second team member does nothing but watch your child. A pulse oximeter records vitals through the visit, and child-sized emergency equipment is in the room, checked before each sedation visit.
Can I stay in the room?
Ask when the visit is planned. Where a parent is during a sedation visit depends on the child and the treatment, and Dr. Farooq says what will work for yours before the day, not on it. A first check-up is never sedated, and you are with your child.
What if my child refuses the mask?
Then we stop and talk. Nitrous oxide only works if a child breathes through the nose piece, so it is never forced. Dr. Farooq decides whether to try another day or plan differently.
Should my child eat before a sedation visit?
It depends on the option. Nitrous oxide works fine after a light meal. For oral sedation, the front desk gives you eating and drinking instructions when the visit is booked, and they matter, so please follow them.
How long until my child is back to normal?
With nitrous oxide, minutes. With oral sedation, plan on a quiet rest of the day with soft food, and call us with any concern. After hours, the emergency line is 248-345-6775.
What parents say about nervous kids in the chair.
Google review“I was really worried my daughter wouldn’t be able to sit for the procedure, even with the gas, but the dentist got my daughter refocused and explained every step to her, and she was able to get everything done she needed to that day. We were in and out in under an hour.”
Google review“My daughter is an extremely anxious patient who has had a couple of previous traumatic experiences at different dentists, so I was skeptical she’d even allow the dentist to perform the procedures. I was wrong. Dr. Farooq got it done. Her staff was kind and patient, and they allowed me to be in the room, offering comfort to my daughter the whole time.”
Google review“My son is six years old and was terrified for his first dentist appointment. But they put him at ease. They showed him all the tools they were going to be using beforehand and let him touch them and see that they did not hurt!”
Related care
Book a visit
Ready to schedule your child’s visit?
Call us during office hours or send a request online any time. Our team will reach out to book a time that works for your family.
New patients are always welcome.
Front desk, Monday to Thursday, 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM
After-hours dental emergency? Call 248-345-6775.
Have an emergency?
If your child is struggling to breathe or swallow, or has a head injury, call 911 first. For a dental emergency that is not life-threatening, such as a knocked-out tooth, a broken tooth, dental swelling, or pain that will not settle, call our emergency line, day or night. We would rather tell you it can wait than have you sit on it over a weekend.