Is your child afraid of visiting the dentist? It’s common for children to be afraid of or worried about seeing a dentist. There is hope, though, for parents who want their child to feel at ease. With pediatric dental sedation in Houston, your child will feel relaxed and worry free during any procedure.
Do All Procedures Need Sedation?
Most of the time, pediatric dentists want to prevent cavities and diseases. For this reason, most pediatric visits are non invasive and only include a dental checkup, x-rays, cleaning, and dental sealants.
Should a cavity, disease, or damage occur, a pediatric dentist can still take care of that. The latter category of visits tend to be more worrisome for the child, making pediatric dental sedation a viable option.
The sedation helps calm their fears and also reduces the sensation of pain and discomfort. Many patients also report that sedation makes the visit seem to go by faster.
Some children may need sedation for reasons other than fear and anxiety. They may be restless and always moving around. This kind of behavior makes the procedure harder since the dentist is trying to perform very fine movements.
With pediatric dental sedation, your child is calm and relaxed, keeping them nice and still in the dental chair.
The sedation relaxes all their muscles and lulls them into a calm state whereby they remain still as the dentist works. This method works for just about any procedure, including those that are non invasive.
Is Pediatric Dental Sedation Safe?
Pediatric dental sedation is just as safe as it is for adults. In fact, sedation for kids requires more certifications than they would need for adult sedation.
The dentist always monitors sedation to ensure the child is only getting the lowest dose necessary. With laughing gas (nitrous oxide) or an IV sedative, the levels are adjusted throughout the procedure to maintain a balance.
It will not take more than a gentle nudge to awaken a sedated child. In some cases that need general anesthesia, the child will be asleep, but still under constant watch.
