Safety of Sedation Dentistry on Children

It is not just the children, but a large portion of the adult population also gets anxious and nervous in the name of dental problems and their treatments. Sedation dentistry appears most helpful in such situations to calm the mind before beginning the treatment process. But as a parent, you might be worrying whether it would be safe enough to put your child through such treatment procedures. ​

It is very natural for you as there is very little awareness about the sedation treatment processes. Thus, let us have a brief discussion on the sedation pediatric dentistry treatment processes and if they are safe for your little one.​

What is Sedation Dentistry?

​It is a process that is performed before the dental treatments under the supervision of trained dentists. Some mild medications or sedatives are used to calm the patients with special needs, extreme fear of dental treatments, restless or naughty children so that the long and multiple treatment procedures can be done with ease. However, there are several rules and restrictions for giving such sedatives to patients with different conditions for ensuring the patients’ safety.

Types of Sedation
The sedatives do not relieve the patient from the pain. It helps in relaxing the nerves of the patient for the ease of the treatment. This treatment does not aim to make the patient fall to deep sleep. At Mint Kids Dentistry, the doctors use some of the most common types of sedation on the children following all the safety measures. 
 
1) Oral Sedation
Oral sedation is given in the form of oral pills. The sedation pediatric dentist will ask your child to ingest the medication before starting the treatment procedure to help the child to relax. It will make him feel drowsy, but it will not put him to sleep.
 
2) Intravenous Sedation
IV Sedation is given to the child through injection into their vein, generally at the back of the hand. But first, make sure that the child is not afraid of needles. However, you will need to prepare the child from home for this procedure. This medication helps the child remain less conscious about the dental works done by the doctor.
 
3) Nitrous Oxide
This sedative is given to the patient in form of a gas. You may have heard about this gas as the laughing gas. Your child will have to inhale the gas through a mask. There will be a combination of oxygen and nitrous oxide to help in soothing the child’s nerves and keeping him calm during the dental treatment. It reduces the anxiety level of the child. And after the treatment is complete, pure oxygen will be passed through the mask to eliminate the traces of nitrous oxide from the child’s body.

So, next time do not scare away from dental appointments. Be assured of the safety of sedation pediatric dentistry. The Mint Kids patients can always share their experience around the same. So, never neglect your oral health from now on.