We know that many children are apprehensive about receiving dental care.  Alameda Pediatric Dentistry strives to make each child as comfortable and relaxed as possible while receiving care. First, we listen to your concerns, then we discuss different methods for making your child as comfortable as possible. Together, we lay out a treatment plan that will meet your child's needs. We have several ways of accomplishing this. Conscious Sedation Conscious sedation is an easy way of using a simple oral medication to relax your child without the loss of consciousness. Conscious sedation is performed using a single drug or a combination of oral sedatives and nitrous oxide/oxygen. Each dosage is individually tailored to your child's needs. Patients are selected based upon strict criteria, as each procedure and sedative agent has their own risks, benefits and limitations. General criteria include young age, extent of dental work required and inability to cooperate in a normal, chair side setting. Sedation Instructions Instrucciones De La Sedación Our sedation protocols are compliant with the American Society of Anesthesiologists and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Strict pre-operative instructions are explained to the parents or guardians at the time the appointment is made. General Anesthesia When conscious sedation fails or is considered inappropriate for the nature or amount of dental work, general anesthesia is recommended. With the use of modern,short-acting anesthetics, children are just as awake and alert after general anesthesia as they are after conscious sedation. We recommend a certified pediatric anesthesiologist care for your child, if he or she requires general anesthesia. Alameda Pediatric Dentistry works regularly with pediatric anesthesiologists from Children's Anesthesia Medical Group. These highly-trained physicians provide anesthesia to infants and children everyday at Children's Hospital Oakland and the offices of twenty pediatric dentists.  All have subspecialty (fellowship) training in pediatric anesthesia and are board-certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology.