Have you recently learned your child needs dental sedation during their next appointment? It’s natural to feel a bit anxious at this point.
To calm your nerves and help you and your child prepare, check out this short blog post to discover the truth about the six most common myths about sedation dentistry for kids.
This can be true, but not always. Dental sedation comes in many forms, and there is really only one that is specifically designed to put a child or adult to sleep: general anesthesia.
This type of sedation is only used in a clinical setting for major dental procedures. Another common form of sedation that may lead to the child falling asleep is IV sedation. While it doesn’t specifically put them to sleep, the effects of IV sedation may be so relaxing that, yes, the child could doze off during their appointment.
Sedation dentistry is used to help kids feel calm and relaxed during their appointment. Anesthesia is the go-to solution for blocking pain.
Through sedation, small children and those with special needs can find a good solution to gain access to even basic dental care.
Sedation dentistry is perfectly safe when administered by a trained professional in a controlled setting.
Dentists choose the type of sedation based on the child’s medical history and taking into account the dental work they need.
Sedation can be important, but it’s not for everyone. Some patients might not benefit from it if they suffer from an underlying condition or have an allergy to a substance used in the sedative.
Learning your child will need sedation could seem a bit extreme. However, if your pediatric dentist recommends it, it’s because the child genuinely needs it to get their oral health needs addressed.
It could be because the child is extremely afraid of the dentist, so much so that they cannot cooperate during their procedure. Children with special needs may also be very afraid or physically unable to sit through long procedures.
Whatever the case, pediatric dentists only recommend sedation when it is truly necessary.
Mild sedatives like laughing gas wear off fast and aren’t known for any long-term side effects.
With stronger sedatives like IV sedation or general anesthesia, the child is closely monitored during the procedure and even after to ensure they don’t develop any unwanted side effects. This makes sedation perfectly safe, even for children.
Dr. Zala can help put your mind at ease and take you through your child’s dental sedation options.
Schedule an appointment at Little Smiles of Eastvale online or call us at (951) 456-4646 today!
