Pediatric Dentistry Behavior and Pain Management
Chelsea Pediatric Dentistry wants your child’s dental visit to be a positive and comfortable experience for both of you.
STA and Nitrous Oxide
STA (Single Tooth Anesthesia) AKA The Wand
Chelsea Pediatric Dentistry wants your child’s dental visit to be a positive and comfortable experience for both of you. We are constantly implementing new technology to help us achieve that goal. In order to treat your child’s tooth without pain he/she needs tooth numbing/local anesthesia. Traditionally, local anesthesia was administered with a needle. The numbing done with the needle numbs the entire area around the tooth including the lips and gums.
Nitrous Oxide
Sometimes a child may feel anxious before or during dental treatment. Your child may need more than a gentle caring manner to feel comfortable. Nitrous oxide/oxygen is a safe, effective sedative agent used to calm a child’s fear of the dental visit and enhance effective communication. Additionally, it works well for children whose gag reflex interferes with dental treatment.
Nitrous oxide/oxygen is a blend of two gases: nitrous oxide and oxygen. A fitted mask is placed over the nose and, as the patient breathes normally, uptake occurs through the lungs. At the end of treatment, it is eliminated after a short period of breathing oxygen and has no lingering effects.
Dental Anesthesia and Behavior Management
Dental Anesthesia
We understand that deciding to have your child’s dental treatment completed under general anesthesia can be an emotional and difficult decision for parents. At Chelsea Pediatric Dentistry, we believe in partnering with families, providing guidance without judgment, and helping parents make the best decision for their child’s individual needs.
For some children, treatment under general anesthesia may be the safest, most comfortable, and most effective way to receive the dental care they need. This may include very young children with extensive dental needs, children who are unable to tolerate treatment due to anxiety or developmental considerations, and children with special healthcare needs who may benefit from comprehensive care in a single visit. Our goal is to prevent unnecessary stress, provide quality treatment, and protect your child’s emotional well-being.
We offer families the option of referral to a hospital-based residency program or the opportunity to complete all necessary dental treatment in one visit in the familiar surroundings of our own office. Our board-certified pediatric dentists work alongside a board-certified dental anesthesiologist to provide care with the highest emphasis on safety and comfort.
For these exclusive treatment appointments, our office is closed to other patients, allowing our entire team to focus solely on your child. Being cared for in a familiar environment, by a team they already know and trust, can provide additional comfort and reassurance for both children and parents.
We recognize that every child and every family is unique. Whatever path you choose, we are here to support you with compassion, understanding, and the reassurance that your child’s safety, dignity, and well-being will always come first.
Learn more about our dental anesthesia partners at Anesthesia NY (opens in a new tab).
Behavior Management
Dr. Larson and Dr. Buonocore are Board Certified Pediatric Dentists with many years of experience devoted to delivering dental care to children in the most compassionate and comfortable manner possible. Many children are fearful or nervous when they first go to the dentist or may have special needs that make receiving dental care especially difficult. Sometimes these fears are easily mitigated with routine strategies, but in some instances more advanced techniques are necessary. Part of pediatric dental training includes early childhood development and childhood psychology. Both doctors are well versed in the many behavior management techniques supported by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Please feel free to discuss any concerns or issues with the doctors. They encourage open communication between doctor, patient and parents.
