There are many aspects to health, and it includes dental health. Proper dental care is critical in attaining optimal oral health. Unfortunately, it can be challenging for some kids for several reasons, namely, dental anxiety, phobia, and so on. The aforementioned prevents many young children from receiving the necessary dental care that they need.
Luckily, sedation dentistry is a medical option parents like you can explore to make sure that your kiddos receive the oral care they need.
What is sedation dentistry, and when can it be used? Keep on reading below to learn more.
What Is Sedation Dentistry
Sedation dentistry is a part of oral care administration that only specially trained oral healthcare professionals, like dentists, can perform on their patients. It’s a product of several years of refinement in oral medicine practice, and many patients can enjoy its benefits today, including your children.
Suppose you’re in New South Wales in Australia. If that’s the case, it’s recommended that you look for oral healthcare professionals that are certified and licensed to perform sedation dentistry on your kid. For instance, sleep dentistry sedation services across Sydney are a helpful option for you and your little one to explore to deal with dental health issues.
When Is Dental Sedation Necessary For Your Children
Sedation dentistry involves using different medications to help patients, such as kids, relax or fall asleep during dental procedures to ensure success.
Bear in mind that dental sedation or sedation dentistry is only carried out in certain situations. Some of them include the following:
Sedation Dentistry Is Needed If Your Child Has Anxiety And/Or Dental Phobia
You may not believe it, but a huge chunk of the Aussie population is queasy about having to visit their dentists for appointments. The phenomenon is called dental anxiety.
Dental anxiety is the uneasiness patients feel when they’re in their dental appointments. Many triggers are associated with the condition, such as the sound of drills, the dental clinic setting, and others.
On the other hand, dental phobia is a more severe condition wherein patients have an irrational fear of any form of dental care. Either way, both can cause harm to children because receiving dental treatment may be delayed or postponed altogether.
Thankfully, sedation dentistry can help young children overcome their dental anxiety or phobia by assisting them to feel at ease during dental procedures.
Dental Sedation Is Required For Extensive Or Very Long Dental Procedures
To those with the strongest of wills, extensive dental procedures can still raise anxiety and hamper effective oral healthcare delivery. Thus, complicated oral treatments command the use of dental sedation. If your child needs to undergo multiple restorative work, several root canal treatments, and many more, dental sedation can boost their experience.
Kids Who Have A Difficult Time Staying Still Will Find Sedation Dentistry Helpful
Many dental procedures require precision to be carried out effectively. This is impossible if a patient isn’t still in the dental chair. Happily, dental sedation can help patients to calm down and be still during high-stakes dental procedures.
Young Children With Special Needs Can Take Advantage Of Dental Sedation
Parents of children with special needs can find dental sedation very helpful for their loved ones’ treatment sessions. Different types of dental sedation are available that a licensed sedation dentist can offer to patients depending on their case.
Indeed, dental sedation is a marvel for many parents, like yourself, whose children struggle with dental procedures. Consult with your sedation dentist if dental sedation is applicable to your kids’ case.
Different Types Of Dental Sedation
There are different levels and types of sedation, such as oral sedation, nitrous oxide, intravenous (IV) sedation, and general anesthesia.
Oral sedation is a type of sedation dentistry that’s administered orally. Oral sedatives usually kick in at around less than half an hour.
On the other hand, nitrous oxide, or giggles gas, is a mild sedative and is said to be the least invasive. Children breathe in the gas to make them feel relaxed during a dental procedure.
IV sedation, meanwhile, is a kind of sedation dentistry administered through an IV line. Young children may be adamant about receiving IV sedation due to the needles involved with it.
Finally, general anesthesia is only reserved for extreme cases like extensive dental procedures, children with very extreme dental phobia, and many more.
Conclusion
Sedation dentistry is a marvel of modern-day healthcare and is useful for many patients, especially young children. Dental sedation is necessary in cases that involve kids with dental anxiety and/or phobia, children who are having a hard time staying still during dental visits, complicated oral procedures, and dental patients with special needs.
If you’re a parent of a child described above, you can ask your dentist about dental sedation services and how they can help your kid’s oral health.
