Sedation:

Sedation Dentistry

At SmileTown: Just Kids Dentistry we specialize in dental sedation, we range from minimal sedation to deep sedation. We use specialized techniques to help your children feel relaxed and comfortable during their dental procedure.

What is Dental Sedation?

Dental sedation involves the use of medication to help your child feel relaxed and calm during their dental treatment. It’s sometimes referred as sleep dentistry.

What is the Purpose of Dental Sedation?

The primary reason for dental sedation is to help alleviate anxiety and dental phobia. This can make the experience a positive one for your child if they can just wake up with a brand new smile without even realizing it.

What are the Different Types of Sedation?

There are four different types of dental sedation that you can choose from. It ranges from Awake, Nitrous Oxide, Oral Sedation, General Anaesthesia.

Nitrous Oxide:

Nitrous Oxide is also known as laughing gas, this is inhaled through a mask that we like to call the elephant nose and produces a mild level of sedation to help the child feel relaxed but still conscious. This method of sedation would be great for children who have mild dental anxiety.

Oral Sedation:

This method involves taking an oral medication prior to being put in the chair. This is an easy way to make the child drink it.This method involves the child taking an oral medication prior to being put into the dental chair. This liquid at SmileTown: Just Kids Dentistry tastes like chocolate milk! This oral medication then makes them dozy but still conscious. This method is great for children with mild to moderate dental anxiety.

IV Sedation:

This method is done on an intravenous line, this will go directly through the child’s bloodstream and they will induce a deeper level of sedation and relaxation. This method would be best for children with severe anxiety or children who need complex procedures done.

General Anaesthesia:

This method gives the child complete pain relief while they are unconscious. This method is ideal for extreme dental phobia, extensive procedures need to be completed or for special needs.

What are the considerations for Dental Sedation?

Dental sedation is great for helping reduce your child’s dental anxiety. However, patient health should be considered before any administration of sedation. This conversation will be done at the consultation with one of our doctors. Each type of dental sedation and duration will influence the choice of the method and the dosage. Another factor that will be considered is how strong their childs’ dental anxiety is.

What are the Benefits of Dental Sedation?

The main benefits of having dental sedation done is that it can alleviate any stress that your child may be facing. It also promotes relaxation and comfort during their complex and long dental procedures. In addition, if the child is misbehaved, sedation can make the child be more cooperative and allow the dentist to perform the procedure more efficiently and accurately.

To conclude, dental sedation is great for any child that has dental phobia, misbehaved or for children with special needs. By understanding the benefits of each method you can decide which would be best for your child.

If you have any questions about our various sedation options or concerns, please call SmileTown: Just Kids Dentistry at (519) 749-9981 or submit a form here.

FAQ

Sedation dentistry is usually considered safe, even for young patients. It helps control the anxiety and discomfort of patients during dental procedures. Before sedation is recommended, dentists evaluate the medical history and the necessity of each child to avoid excess dosage. Even so, parents should voice any concerns they may have to their dentist so that the best care can be provided for their child’s dental health.

Sedation dentistry can significantly help children with dental anxiety by creating a calm and relaxed environment during dental procedures. Through medication, pain and fear of treatment are controlled; thus, children are able to have inpatient management efficiently without any stress. This approach not only improves their experience when undergoing treatments but also helps cultivate good feelings towards dental associations in the near future.

In advance of a sedation dentistry procedure, it is highly recommended that you explain it in child-friendly language, claiming that it is strictly to help them relax and feel at ease. Explain any specific instructions that may be given prior to the appointment, such as the need to stop eating or drinking or the use of medications. Pack some favourite things, such as a stuffed animal, to help with the worry.  Lastly, reassure your child that the dentist will take great care of them.

Once your child has undergone sedation dentistry, For the next couple of hours, expect your child to be sleepy and somewhat dazed as the sedation wears off. Your child may also be slightly groggy, disoriented, or unable to remember certain things. Keep a close watch on them after the surgery and allow them to rest as much as possible. Ensure that your child obeys the dentist’s post-operative order, especially when taking foods and medicines that ease pain to facilitate healing without complications.

It is important to note that sedation dentistry for children has its risks, although most of them are relatively mild. Drowsiness, nausea, and occasionally a period of mild confusion as the sedation wears off are among the most commonly experienced effects. However, severe reactions are very uncommon. One would need to talk to the dentist about any fears prior to the procedure in order to avoid any risks and distress to the child.

The duration of dental sedation in children usually falls within the brackets of 1 to 6 hours, depending on the kind of sedation dentistry procedure used for the children. Laughing gas, also called nitrous oxide, dissipates fast and usually takes a few minutes after cessation of its administration to wear off. On the contrary, some oral tranquillizers and IV sedation may take longer, hence the need for their parents to keep an eye on the child after the procedure is over. Always seek advice from your doctor about patients using sedation dentistry.