Pediatric sedation dentistry that families can trust starts with a plan built around your child.
Every child deserves to feel safe, comfortable, and supported during dental care. For some children, conventional comfort measures simply are not enough — and that is where pediatric sedation dentistry makes a meaningful difference.
At Bright Healthy Smiles, we offer a full range of sedation options, from gentle nitrous oxide for mild anxiety to IV sedation and general anesthesia for children who need deeper support. What makes our practice unique is that Dr. Sanjay Tewari — a board-certified pediatric anesthesiologist — is a permanent member of our clinical team. He is not brought in for specific cases. He is here.
That means the highest level of pediatric anesthesia care is available at every sedation appointment, with a specialist who knows our patients, works alongside our dentists daily, and maintains the safety protocols of a hospital-level service in a private practice setting.
Sedation dentistry is not about replacing trust, communication, or a positive environment. It is one of many tools we may use to help children feel more comfortable during treatment. Every recommendation is based on a child’s individual needs, health history, developmental stage, and treatment requirements.
Our goal is always to use the most appropriate level of support while helping children build positive experiences with dental care — the philosophy behind our approach to pediatric sedation dentistry.
Different children have different needs. We take time to explain available options and help families understand what may be appropriate for their child.
A mild form of sedation that helps many children feel more relaxed during dental treatment while remaining awake and responsive.
Oral sedation may be recommended for children who need additional support beyond nitrous oxide to feel comfortable during treatment.
IV sedation can provide a deeper level of relaxation for children who require extensive treatment, have significant anxiety, or may have difficulty completing care comfortably.
In select situations, treatment may be completed under general anesthesia in a hospital setting when it is the safest and most appropriate option.
Nitrous oxide — commonly known as laughing gas — is the gentlest and most commonly used form of sedation in pediatric dentistry. It is safe, effective, and entirely reversible within minutes of the appointment ending.
At our Upper East Side pediatric dental office, we use nitrous oxide regularly — it’s delivered through a small mask that fits comfortably over the nose. Within a few minutes, children typically feel relaxed, calm, and sometimes slightly euphoric. They remain fully conscious, aware of their surroundings, and able to respond to instructions throughout the appointment.
The effects wear off completely within minutes of removing the mask — no grogginess, no lingering effects, no recovery time. Children can return to school or normal activities immediately after the appointment. Nitrous oxide is one of the safest medications used in dentistry, with a decades-long record of use in pediatric patients.
If you think your child might benefit from nitrous oxide, simply let us know when you schedule — we will plan accordingly.
Families often choose nitrous oxide because the effects wear off quickly once the mask is removed.
IV sedation delivers sedative medication directly into the bloodstream through an intravenous line, producing a deeper state of relaxation than oral sedation. Children under IV sedation are in a twilight state — profoundly relaxed, largely unaware of the procedure, and with little to no memory of it afterward.
IV sedation is monitored continuously by Dr. Tewari throughout the procedure. This level of oversight — a board-certified pediatric anesthesiologist who is physically present and focused entirely on the patient’s safety and comfort — is what makes IV sedation at Bright Healthy Smiles significantly different from practices where anesthesia support is brought in externally.
For families looking for a pediatric dentist who offers IV sedation, this on-staff model matters: consistent protocols, a specialist who knows the practice, and anesthesia records that stay in one place.
When IV sedation is recommended, we review the plan, fasting instructions, and recovery steps with you in advance.
General anesthesia is used for children who require extensive dental treatment that cannot safely or effectively be completed while awake, for children with significant special healthcare needs, or for very young children for whom any other sedation approach is not appropriate.
Under general anesthesia, the child is fully asleep and feels nothing. Dr. Tewari administers and monitors anesthesia while our dental team completes all necessary treatment in a single appointment — minimizing the number of times the child needs to go through a stressful experience and allowing comprehensive care to be delivered efficiently.
General anesthesia at Bright Healthy Smiles is performed with the same protocols and safety standards used in hospital settings. Having Dr. Tewari on staff rather than on a referral list means families do not need to coordinate between providers, travel to a hospital or surgical center, or navigate a separate system of care. Everything is managed within our practice by a team that works together daily.
We take a thoughtful, individualized approach to determining whether sedation may benefit your child.
We review your child's oral health needs, medical history, comfort level, and treatment requirements before discussing available options.
Our team explains the benefits, considerations, and expected experience for the sedation option that may be appropriate for your child.
Treatment is completed using established safety protocols and careful monitoring designed to support your child's comfort and wellbeing.
We provide detailed post-treatment instructions and remain available to answer questions as your child recovers.
Sedation is not only for children with extreme fear. There are many situations where sedation makes dental care more comfortable and effective:
For anxious kids, a pediatric dentist who offers sedation can be the difference between avoided care and completed care. If your child fits any of these situations, our Special Needs Dentistry team may also be a helpful starting point.
Sedation dentistry can help create safer, more positive treatment experiences for children and families.
Additional support can help children feel calmer and more comfortable during dental treatment.
Children may be able to complete recommended care more comfortably and efficiently.
Recommendations are tailored to each child's needs, health history, and treatment goals.
Parents can feel confident knowing their child is receiving thoughtful, safety-focused care.
Our board-certified pediatric dentists are dedicated to helping kids get the dental care they need, comfortably and without fear, through personalized treatment planning, safe sedation options, and compassionate care. For children who feel anxious in the dental chair, have a strong gag reflex, or need more extensive treatment, sedation lets us complete care gently and efficiently while your child stays relaxed and closely monitored from start to finish. Between them, our doctors have cared for thousands of kids across the Upper East Side, and this is a team that knows how to turn a worried patient into a calm one.
Our team is happy to answer questions, explain available options, and help you determine the most appropriate approach for your child's needs.
Answers to common questions families ask about pediatric sedation dentistry.
We believe families deserve clear information when considering sedation dentistry. Our team explains treatment recommendations, available options, and expected costs so parents can make informed decisions with confidence — including which sedation services insurance plans typically cover.
We help families understand available dental benefits and any coverage that may apply to sedation-related treatment.
Costs vary depending on the type of treatment and level of sedation recommended for your child.
We review recommendations, timelines, and expected costs before treatment so families understand what to expect.
All care takes place at our Upper East Side office at 1317 Third Avenue, between East 75th and 76th Streets. Families visit us from neighborhoods across Manhattan, including:
Questions about getting here? Call (212) 355-7760 or schedule an appointment.
