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Sedation dentistry for children
Going to the dentist can be a stressful experience for many children - but it doesn’t need to be. Whether they are nervous about their visit, impatient, or have very sensitive teeth, we are proud to offer sedation dentistry for our pediatric patients.
What is it?
Sedation dentistry is a safe, effective way to calm nerves and provide a relaxing experience for our patients. Also known as conscious sedation, it uses anesthetic to numb the mouth and soothe anxiety, without requiring the need to be fully unconscious. That means that your child will also need less time after their treatment or procedure to feel like themselves again.
There are multiple different types of sedation dentistry:
- Laughing gas, or inhalation analgesia. This is a commonly known form of sedation used in dental clinics. Your dentist may cover your child’s face with a mask, delivering nitrous oxide via their nose and mouth. It gets its nickname - laughing gas - because of the happy feeling patients often get after receiving it.
- IV sedation. A less common way to sedate patients before their oral procedure is with an IV. This allows for a deeper sedation and more relaxation, requiring a bit more time to recover from after visiting the clinic.
Regardless of which method is the most appropriate for your child, it’s important to watch your child carefully after their visit. They may need help walking and will probably want to take a nap after they’ve returned home. That’s normal! Once they wake up, they should feel like themselves again and won’t have anxiety or bad memories from their visit to the dentist.
Is sedation dentistry right for your child?
As specialists in Pediatric Dentistry, we make every effort to make your child feel comfortable while they are in our chair. But, if they are still nervous about their visit or an upcoming procedure, sedation dentistry may be an option.
Talk to Dr. Stryt or any of our experienced team members to see if we can use sedation dentistry for your child’s next visit.
Book a free consultation