How Sedation Dentistry Can Help Children with Fear and Anxiety
At Dry Creek Pediatric Dentistry, we serve residents from all over the Lehi, Utah area. As a leading pediatric dentist, we’re trusted by families to look after all of their dentistry needs, from that first tooth poking through right into early adulthood.
Getting young children comfortable visiting the dentist is an important part of their development. However, some children (like adults) do have a phobia of visiting the dentist, causing them a lot of stress and anxiety. This can be exacerbated if a child has to undergo a dental procedure outside of a normal check-up.
That’s why we offer sedation dentistry as part of our services. This allows children to relax while the dentist completes their treatment safely.
So what is sedation dentistry and how can it help children
What is sedation dentistry?
If a child is stressed and anxious about visiting the dentist, then this can have a long-term impact on both the child and the parents. Because we want to make the experience as stress-free as possible, a sedative can be given to the child to help them relax while the dentist carries out their treatment in a calm and safe environment. There are several different sedative types available which we will discuss later.
Does your child need sedation?
Some children don’t like visiting the dentist even for a routine checkup. If your child is anxious about the dentist or lives with other types of anxiety issues, then he may be a good candidate for sedation.
It’s important that the dentist can safely work on your child’s teeth and not cause them any unnecessary stress and anxiety.
Types of sedation used
We offer different types of sedation dentistry based on factors such as level of nervousness, age, and size of the child, and the type of treatment they are having. Some children require only light sedation whereas others may need a bit more.
Nitrous oxide – this is also known as laughing gas and is inhaled. It has mild relaxation effects and your child is aware of what’s happening. The effects wear off relatively quickly.
Oral sedation – this type of sedation is given approximately an hour before the dentist starts the procedure. It can produce moderate sedative effects and cause drowsiness.
IV sedation – this is given through an IV line directly into your child’s bloodstream. It begins to work very quickly and can cause moderate sedation. Many children will not remember their procedure at all.
Heavy sedation – this is inhaled and will put the child into a deep sleep. It is closer to general anesthesia.
Talk to us
If you think that your child could benefit from our sedation dentistry services, talk to a member of the team at our Lehi, Utah practice. We can talk about your child, their oral health requirements and the types of sedation we would recommend. We want your child to form a positive experience of visiting the dentist that they can benefit from for the rest of their lives.