Dental Sedation: When Is It Necessary for Children?

Looking for information on dental sedation? Taking a child to the dentist can cause them and you a lot of anxiety, however, with the help of dental sedation, dentist appointments may be easier. Exploring dental sedation for dentist appointments and procedures can be helpful for parents wondering whether or not their children need or could benefit from it.

In this article, we highlight what dental sedation is and when it is necessary for children. There are a few important times when children may need dental sedation. And, parents should familiarize themselves with those times so that they are best prepared for taking their child to the dentist.

About dental sedation

It is first important to understand what dental sedation even is. Both children and adults may need to receive dental sedation during dental procedures or appointments. There are three types of dental sedation that can be administered depending on the situation and need.

Nitrous oxide

Nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, is a form of dental sedation that can significantly help both children and adults to relax during appointments or simple procedures such as fluoride treatments, teeth whitening or general checkups. Laughing gas is simply nitrous oxide that is inhaled through a mask. It relaxes patients so that they feel less anxiety.

Oral sedation

Oral sedation is the next tier of dental sedation that can be administered prior to more intense procedures such as dental fillings or dental crowns. Oral sedation typically consists of medicine taken orally that calms and relaxes the patient.

Anesthesia

Anesthesia is the most intense form of dental sedation and it is most commonly used during surgical procedures. Anesthesia is pumped through the veins in an IV, and patients usually become unconscious so that they won’t feel anxiety or pain during the procedure.

When is sedation dentistry necessary for children?

There are a few scenarios in which a child should receive sedation dentistry. Below, we talk about some of these so that you can be prepared.

Anxiety

A lot of children experience some sort of anxiety prior to visiting the dentist. If a child is unable to have their teeth cleaned or examined then it may be necessary to administer a form of dental sedation such as laughing gas. This may help improve the experience overall so that ultimately, the dentist can check up on the child’s teeth.

Dental crowns or fillings

The placement of crowns and fillings often requires removal of the decayed parts of the tooth and this can require a dental drill to be used. The sound or look of the drill may cause fear which could result in a need for dental sedation. In these scenarios, laughing gas may be quite helpful.

Invasive procedures

As unfortunate as it is, children sometimes need an invasive procedure done. If there is a traumatic injury that requires repair then dental sedation may need to be administered so that the child doesn’t feel further pain or fear.

The bottom line

If your child experiences any of the above scenarios when it comes to dental appointments and procedures, they may benefit from dental sedation.

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