Many children feel anxious before it’s time for their routine dental visit. The fear of pain or the buzzing sounds of dental machines can be all too much for a child. Nowadays, most pediatric dentists offer sedation dentistry at their clinics to make the visit easy and very comfortable. Let’s have a look at different types of dental sedation for kids and when they’re used.
What Is Dental Sedation and Why Your Child May Need It?
Dental sedation means giving your child a medication to help calm their nerves before the dentist starts working on their teeth. Children are naturally fidgety before visiting a dentist, but for some, the anxiety is so severe that it stops them from getting the treatment they need.
Sedation dentistry helps overcome this obstacle. It keeps your child relaxed and calm and allows them to undergo the procedure without being stressed.
It’s also useful for kids who have trouble sitting still in the dental chair. Pediatric dentists suggest it for those children as well who are scheduled for a complex treatment.
What Are the Different Types of Dental Sedation for Kids?
Dentists first assess a child’s oral health and medical history to determine whether they need sedation and which type. They may recommend one of these options:
Nitrous oxide (laughing gas)
This is the most common type that many pediatric dentists offer for keeping children relaxed. It is the mildest form of sedation.
The dentist places a small mask on your child’s nose. Through this mask, they breathe in a mix of nitrous oxide and oxygen. You’ll see that your child looks visibly relaxed within minutes.
Sometimes, children laugh or giggle (which is why it’s called the laughing gas). The effect wears off quickly once the dentist removes the mask, and the child can soon get back to their activities.
Oral sedation
Children with mild to moderate anxiety can benefit from oral sedation. The pediatric dentist prescribes a pill or liquid that your little one has to take before their visit.
Your child won’t be asleep during their treatment. They will still be conscious and responsive but will feel significantly less anxious before and during the procedure.
IV sedation
For kids who need to undergo longer procedures or have severe anxiety, IV sedation might be recommended. The medication directly reaches the bloodstream through an IV line.
Kids who get IV sedation remain partly conscious but hardly remember anything about the treatment once it’s done.
General anesthesia
In rare cases, a child may need general anesthesia. Dentists consider it when any of the other sedative techniques are not enough. Your child will be fully asleep during this procedure.
It is done in a hospital or surgical setting, and your child is monitored throughout.
Wrapping Up
Fear of dental visits shouldn’t stop your young one from getting the treatment they need. If you’re looking into dental sedation options for kids and want to know whether it’s safe for your child, our pediatric dentist, Dr. Neil Dean, and his team at KC Kids Dental are here to help! Book a consultation today.
