Sedation Dentistry For Children
Sedation dentistry provides safe, comfortable dental treatment for children with special needs. Children who have a level of anxiety that prevents good coping skills or are very young and do not understand how to cope in a cooperative fashion for the delivery of dental care should be sedated. Sedation is safe when performed by a trained pediatric dentist who follows the sedation guideline from the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.
Your child can benefit from sedation dentistry if he/she experiences one or more of the following:
• High fear of dental care
• Complex dental problems
• Traumatic dental experiences
• Fear of needles and shots
• Trouble getting numb
• Sensitive teeth
The three types of sedation dentistry we offer are:
• Inhalation Sedation
• Conscious Sedation (oral sedation)
• IV Sedation
Inhalation Sedation
Inhalation sedation uses Nitrous Oxide and Oxygen (laughing gas) to help calm a child’s fear of the dental visit. This is perhaps the safest form of sedation used in dentistry today. It is non-addictive, mild, easily taken, and quickly eliminated by the body. Your child remains fully conscious, keeps all natural reflexes when breathing Nitrous Oxide and Oxygen gas. When inhaled, it is absorbed by the body and has a calming effect. Normal breathing eliminates Nitrous Oxide/Oxygen from the body.
Your child will smell a sweet, pleasant aroma and experience a sense of well-being and relaxation. If your child is worried by the sights, sounds, or sensations of dental treatment, he or she may respond more positively with the use of Nitrous Oxide and Oxygen.
Every service is tailored to your child as an individual. Nitrous Oxide and Oxygen is not effective for some children, especially those who have severe anxiety, nasal congestion, extensive treatment needs, or discomfort wearing a nasal mask.
Conscious Sedation
Conscious sedation is a management technique that uses oral medications to assist the child to cope with fear and anxiety during dental procedures. It aids in allowing a child to cope better with dental treatment. This can help prevent injury to the child from patient movement and promote a better environment for providing dental care. Many different oral medications can be used for conscious sedation. Your pediatric dentist will discuss different options for your child. The medications and dosages are selected that are unlikely to cause loss of consciousness in the patient.
Through this type of sedation your child will experience deep relaxation while still being conscious. When the medication takes effect, your child will be able to speak and respond to external requests.
Intravenous Sedation
Intravenous sedation is a deeper level sedation which has a rapid onset, diminishes fear and anxiety and produces a pleasant state of relaxation. This technique will enable your child to undergo treatment in a very calm and relaxed manner. The medications are given through intravenous route.
This type of sedation significantly reduces or eliminates moderate to severe apprehension levels. With this technique, it allows the dentist to perform a variety of procedures, which would otherwise take several appointments, during one sitting. A fully trained and qualified anesthesiologist administers the anesthetic, monitors vital functions and maintains patient comfort during the dental procedure.
Pre-Medication Instructions
If your child is scheduled for sedation during a dental appointment, please read these instructions carefully. Please call our office if you have any questions.
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