Pediatric sedation for dental care is becoming a common practice among dental practices today. We all want our children to have good oral health, but it is no secret that performing dental care on young children can be a challenge.
Sedation dentistry in pediatrics has made dental procedures less stressful for children and can ensure that they will not feel any discomfort in the process. Not only that, but it makes the process of doing so safer for all parties involved.
Does My Child Need Sedation
If your child's dentist has offered sedation for your child's procedure, they feel it would help ease the anxiety that your child may experience about having a long dental procedure. Many children are fearful of going to the dentist or get easily frightened by the tools that the dentist uses.
Sedation is suggested because it is an effective way to make sure your child gets the dental care he or she needs without having to experience the uncomfortable elements of going to the dentist.
Is Sedating My Child Safe?
When a medical or dental professional administers sedation for dental procedures, it is very safe and most children tolerate the process smoothly. Your child's vital signs will be monitored throughout the entire procedure and professionals who are certified to administer sedation are extensively trained.
In the rare case that a patient has an adverse reaction to the sedation, the office or facility where the procedure takes place is prepared with the proper emergency equipment to handle it.
How Is Sedation Dentistry Done?
The main methods of sedation for pediatric patients are oral sedation, nitrous oxide, and intravenous sedation.
Nitrous Oxide
Nitrous oxide or laughing gas is a safe and nontoxic gas administered via a face mask along with oxygen to relax your child and induce calmness. It works best for procedures that will be shorter than a couple of hours because it wears off rather quickly once it is turned off.
Oral Sedation
Oral sedation is where your child's dentist gives your child medication orally to help induce drowsiness and help them have less awareness of what is going on around them. Intravenous sedation involves the use of an IV catheter in the arm to introduce medication directly into the bloodstream and usually puts your child into a twilight sleep. This is best for longer procedures for children who are fearful of dental procedures or have severe anxiety.
Your dentist will provide a recommendation and give you relevant information about the medications that will be used. The best thing you can do as a parent to help is to follow the instructions given by their child's dentist for the time period prior to the procedure. This will ensure that the sedation administration is safe and effective so that your child can comfortably receive all the necessary dental care that they need.
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