A Painless Pediatric Dental Office Can Help Your Child During a Dental Visit

A painless pediatric dentist can provide dental sedation options to keep your child comfortable during dental appointments. Patients of all ages need regular dental care, but dental anxiety can make it harder to keep up with routine dental checkups. Establishing a healthy routine from an early age can help children cultivate a lifelong habit of oral care.

How dental sedation helps

Kid-friendly dental offices and parental efforts are often not enough to curb some children's fear of the dentist. This fear can prevent them from getting the treatment required to ensure good oral health and development. If their dental fears persist into adulthood, they may find themselves constantly postponing necessary dental treatment.

Dental sedation is an important tool used by pediatric dental specialists to help children relax during a dental visit. The sedation mediation enables the dentist to induce various levels of suppressed consciousness. Although anesthesia may also be used, it should not be confused with sedation. The former helps minimize pain during dental procedures. Sedation helps relieve emotions caused by dental anxiety. Children under sedation can breathe without help and react to verbal cues or physical stimuli.

A pain-free dental experience

A child who has received shots may think that regular local anesthetic needles are scary. Also, a local anesthetic does not eliminate the discomfort of holding the jaw wide open or undergoing dental procedures. Dental sedation gives the child a calm and pain-free experience regardless of the procedure type.

A quick and effective procedure

Children tend to have a hard time staying still, and it is even harder to stay still when a stranger is performing a procedure in their mouth. Regardless of the dentist's experience, it might affect the length of time needed to complete a procedure, even dental cleaning. It becomes even more difficult when multiple procedures need to be done. Dental sedation can ensure that children can get the most out of their dental visit.

How dental sedation works

The child will remain calm for as long as the sedative is in effect, and the painless pediatric dentist will continue to monitor sedation levels. The dental team will monitor the child's vitals, including respiration, blood pressure, and heart rate, throughout the procedure. After treatment, the child will feel slightly drowsy and should be watched until their vital signs return to normal. The child can return home for a nap before resuming their regular activities.

Methods of sedation

Generally speaking, dental sedation is quite light and patients will not be completely asleep. Sedation may help put anxious children at ease during their next dental treatment. Various sedatives are available, and the dentist may safely administer any of them. The options include the following.

Nitrous oxide

Nitrous oxide is sometimes known as "laughing gas" and is a safe, moderate sedative that may help a child stay calm during dental work. The dentist will administer the sedative via a "space mask" filled with oxygen and the medication. When the child is instructed to breathe, they may pick up on a light, pleasant aroma. In approximately five minutes, they will feel the calming effects of the sedative. The mask will stay on during the whole operation. The child will be fully awake and may even feel content during the operation.

As soon as the treatment is over, the nitrous oxide will be switched off, and the child will breathe pure oxygen for around 5 minutes to eliminate any lingering gas. Before the surgery, parents should only give their kids a light meal, such as toast or a bagel.

Oral sedative

Oral sedation may be given if a child has anxiety. They can inhale or ingest it. The child will be somewhat drowsy from this medication but will remain relaxed and comfortable during the treatment. Within 20 minutes, the medication often starts to take effect. Once the parents arrive with their child at the dentist's office, the dentist will administer the medication. The child should not have anything to eat or drink after midnight the night before the sedation appointment.

IV sedation

The dentist can administer intravenous (IV) sedation through painless injection. The most significant benefit of IV sedation is the dentist's ability to provide more medication as needed during a lengthy treatment to keep the child calm and comfortable.

Final note

You can help your child have a positive dental experience by opting for dental sedation. It can help them overcome dental anxiety and maintain regular dental care later in life. To learn more about your options, talk to the painless pediatric dentist.

Request an appointment here: https://www.grandparkwaypediatricdental.com or call Grand Parkway Pediatric Dental at (832) 579-0960 for an appointment in our Richmond office.

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