An estimated 5% - 20% of kids have dental anxiety. Sedation dentistry can help kids with anxiety and keep them comfortable during their appointment.
Laughing gas, also known as nitrous oxide, is a gas your child will inhale through the nose. We administer this sedative through a nasal mask along with a steady flow of oxygen. This sedative takes effect very quickly, causing the patient to feel at ease, relaxed, euphoric, and giddy within just a few minutes.
We can control the dosage that is coming through the nasal mask. It is the safest sedative available which makes it commonly used for children. Nitrous oxide is mild so your child will remain conscious during the procedure, but they also won’t be able to remember anything once the sedative wears off. At the end of your appointment, we will remove the nasal mask and your child will return to a normal state within just a few minutes.
IV sedation is a more intense form of conscious sedation because it is administered directly to your veins through an IV. While we will monitor your heart rate and oxygen levels, you will not need breathing assistance through a tube, like with general anesthesia.
Your breathing will remain automatic and you will feel very sleepy once the sedative takes effect. Some patients may fall asleep and not be aware of what happened during the appointment.
This sedative is more suitable for people with severe dental anxiety, special needs, or a more invasive procedure. The lingering effects of this sedative can last for 24 hours.
Your child will have all of their adult teeth by the age of 12 or 13, but their faces and jaws are still growing. This makes the pre-teen and teen years the ideal time for orthodontia. It’s easier to realign their smiles with orthodontic treatment like braces and Invisalign at this time.
So be on the lookout for signs of misalignment that may indicate the need for orthodontic treatment. If your teen’s teeth are visibly crooked or crowded, or you notice an issue like an overbite or underbite, you should schedule an orthodontic consultation to explore your options for correcting their smile.
Sedation is often used when a patient is severely anxious about visiting the dentist, has a fear of needles, or has mental or physical special needs. It can also reduce restlessness, low pain tolerance, and sensitive gag reflex. The amnesiac effect also helps patients forget the procedure if the dentist is a traumatic experience for them. Sedation is often also used for more invasive procedures that have a higher risk for discomfort, such as extractions or other oral surgeries. Sedation can help patients sit still for long periods or hold their mouths open without getting tired.
The dentist is also able to get more dental work done in fewer appointments.If you think your child could benefit from dental sedation for their next appointment, contact us at Kindred Pediatric Dentistry in Beaumont to schedule a consultation with Dr. Meghanne Kruizenga.
You may qualify for dental sedation if you’re scheduled for a lengthy and traumatic procedure. Dental sedation is also necessary if you’re predisposed to extreme pain and sensitivity during invasive dental treatments. The same goes for patients with abnormal gag and swallow reflexes. Sedation prevents the patients from gagging or throwing up when the dentist puts instruments in their mouths.
Sedation substitutes local anesthesia like lidocaine and epinephrine if they don’t work for you. That way, you can have a seamless and pain-free procedure despite being resistant to local numbing agents.
You may also need dental sedation if you have underlying medical conditions that worsen under stress. Sedation allows you to sleep through the stressful procedure. Patients who suffer from anxiety and dental; phobia might also need dental sedation.
Dental sedation is safe, allowing patients to become less anxious and unaware of the dental procedure. The most popular form of sedation is nitrous oxide or laughing gas. Patients inhale nitrous oxide mixed with oxygen through a fitted mask before treatment or surgery. Laughing gas dulls pain sensitivity and reduces anxiety by making the patient calmer.
While perfectly safe, some patients may be allergic to nitrous oxide and experience chills, fever, and difficulty breathing. If so, the dentist might opt for oral sedation, where patients ingest an oral sedative that numbs pain and reduces anxiety. Dentists mostly use a combination of local anesthetics with laughing gas and oral sedatives to ensure a painless procedure.
IV sedation is just as safe as other sedation methods but is mostly reserved for lengthy dental procedures or patients with extreme dental phobia. This sedation type involves administering sedatives (usually midazolam) through an IV drip.
You can prepare your child for dental sedation by asking them not to eat or joining them in not eating anything the night before the dentist appointment. Doing so ensures the sedative takes proper effect.
You can also explain the sedation and dental procedures to them while reassuring them that everything will be okay. Also, encourage questions and answer them as comprehensively as you can. Don’t forget to make them feel as comfortable as possible and plan an exciting activity after the dentist visit to keep their minds off the procedure.
Lastly, remember to stay calm before and after the dental procedure. Stressing and being overly anxious might worry your child and make them uneasy.
The dentists at Kindred Pediatric Dentistry have years of experience with different sedation techniques. Our dentists, led by Dr. Meghanne, will conduct a comprehensive test to find the best sedation method for your needs. They’ll also ensure the atmosphere is calm and amicable so you can feel at ease during the sedation and throughout the dental procedure.
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