For children who hate to visit the dentist, sedation dentistry may be the answer to those phobias. The question is, how safe is this procedure?
Most children aren’t that keen on visiting the dentist. In fact, it can be almost impossible to convince them that they are in safe hands. One solution for calming and soothing a child during a dental visit is the use of sedation dentistry.
Sedation Dentistry and How it Works
Sedation dentistry is pretty easy to comprehend. In order to understand how dental sedation works, you have to look at the different versions of the process. There are 4 types of sedation available for children which makes dental work much easier to complete.
- Minimal inhaled sedation
In order to relax, the patient inhales a mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen. This type of sedation dentistry is the most common. This option of sedation also wears off quickest and proves to be safe for children. In fact, this is used with children more than any other type of sedation.
- Sedation dentistry through IV methods
Sometimes IV sedation will be necessary. This is primarily used when more serious procedures are needed. Although this is usually not used on children, there are exceptions. These exceptions depend on factors such as severity of the dental procedure and how the child usually reacts to dental work.
- Oral sedation
Although this method is unpopular with children, it is less involved than IV sedation. Oral sedation simply means taking a pill to induce a calming effect before the dental procedure.
- Anesthesia
In rare circumstances, anesthesia may be needed. This is the last resort and will only be used to completely render the patient unconscious when having work done. Sedation dentistry of this caliber also poses more risks than other options.
Sedation Dentistry and Bayside Dental
Bayside Dental provides many forms of sedation dentistry for your children’s needs. Yes, sedation dentistry is primarily a safe option, and Bayside dental can help you decide which procedure works best for you and your family.