Is Sedation Dentistry Safe for Toddlers?

Research has shown that every three out of five kids get jitters whenever they think of sitting in the dentist’s chair. So, take heart as a parent and don’t be ashamed since dental anxiety is common, even among adults. However, if your child has dental anxiety, it can be challenging to receive the essential dental care they need to keep their teeth clean.

We all know that oral health and overall health are linked. So, you should contact our pediatric dentist in Houston to schedule an appointment even if you know that they might throw a fit during their session. Our pediatric dentist Houston is well capable of handling your child. For this reason, we offer sedation dentistry in Houston to ensure that your child stays calm during their appointment.

Additionally, several types of sedation dentistry near you are offered to meet every kid’s needs. Take a closer look.

Types of Sedation Used in Dentistry

There are four different forms of sedation dentistry that we offer, including:

• Inhalation Sedation

This is a form of conscious sedation that uses nitrous oxide or laughing gas. The mode of administering the sedative is inhalation. Our pediatric dentist will place a gas mask over your kid’s nose and then dispense the gas.

This is a mild form of sedation that will not render your child unconscious or unresponsive during the procedure.

Once the gas is dispensed, it takes a short while before the effects kick in. After it kicks in, your kid will remain calm during the whole procedure. When the procedure is over, our dentist will turn off the gas, and shortly after, the effects of the gas will wear off.

• Oral Sedation

This is also another form of conscious sedation. With this mode of sedation, your kid will receive the sedative orally. The sedative will take a few minutes before the effects kick in.

Your child will be awake, relaxed, and responsive throughout the procedure, just like inhalation sedation. However, your child might experience some drowsiness, and in some cases, slight amnesia after the procedure. In other words, the details of the procedure might be slightly hazy.

This is the best solution for kids who have a fear of dental equipment or sensitive gag reflex.

After the sedative has worn off, your child might feel a bit tired or dizzy. Therefore, we recommend supervision after the procedure.

• IV Sedation

With this form of sedation, our dentist will administer the sedative intravenously. The sedative will kick in almost immediately and can render your child unconscious, or they can be partially awake. This is dependent on the dosage that is administered. Our anesthesiologist will monitor our kid’s vitals will be monitored throughout the procedure.

After the procedure, we recommend that your child rests and you keep a close eye on your child since the effects may take some time before completely wearing off.

• General Anesthesia

Specific scenarios may require that your child uses general anesthesia. The procedure can be done in a hospital, and your child will return home after the procedure. With general anesthesia, your child will be unconscious throughout the procedure.

How Safe Is Sedation Dentistry?

The general idea that most people have is that sedation dentistry is a scary procedure. However, sedation dentistry is not a scary procedure. On the contrary, sedation dentistry will help keep your baby relaxed during the whole procedure.

Plus, another misconception is that all forms of sedation will render your child unconscious. Not all forms of sedation do this; only general anesthesia can do this. Remember, the type of anesthesia is administered according to the unique needs of your child.

In any case, when a certified anesthesiologist carries out sedation dentistry, your child will be in safe hands. However, you can do the following to calm your nerves before the procedure:

• Go over the risks or complications of the procedure with our dentist
• Confirm whether our dentist has thoroughly checked your child’s medical history to determine whether your baby is eligible for the treatment
• Find out if the anesthesiologist has administered the right dosage
• Confirm whether the anesthesiologist is certified and experienced in administering the sedative

Sedation dentistry in Houston will help your child receive the oral care that they need. Contact our pediatric dentist in Houston at Molar Bear Pediatric Dentistry if you need to schedule an appointment.