It is possible for anyone to get nervous while at the dentist but it is very common for children to feel especially anxious. Luckily there are ways that we can help ease their anxiety. Here, our North Delta dentists discuss whether children can receive dental sedation and what the benefits are.
You may know that your child gets nervous at the dentist or they may have special needs and require a bit of help relaxing when it comes to experiences such as visiting the dentist. One way that your child can be assisted with relaxing is by using dental sedation. Our North Delta dentists are often asked if sedation is safe for children undergoing dental treatment.
When trained and experienced dental professionals administer dental sedation, sedation and anesthesia are a safe way for children to receive the necessary and critical dental healthcare they require.
The dentist's office is typically one of the places where children feel the most anxiety and so we may recommend completing the visit while your child is recieving dental sedation. By reducing the stress and anxiety levels of a particularly nervous child, sedation can play a key role in providing children with positive dental experiences.
Dental Sedation For Children
When it comes to dental sedation there are three types that are commonly used for children. These types of sedation are:
Nitrous oxide, otherwise known as laughing gas, can help to calm young patients who are feeling anxious, nervous or frightened. Nitrous Oxide is delivered via a face mask, and will relax the patient and promote euphoric feelings, but will not make the patient unconscious or impair their reflexes.
Oral sedation can take up to 20 minutes to take effect, so it's given to the patient when they first arrive for their dental appointment. Oral sedation will not make the patient unconscious, but patients often dose off during the procedure.
General anesthesia may be recommended by our children's dentists for patients with high pain sensitivity, serious behavioural challenges, limited understanding and/or with special needs. Under general anesthesia, the patient becomes unconscious so that their reflexes are completely relaxed. Patients will have no memory of the procedure once they wake, and will not feel pain during the procedure.
At our North Delta dental offices, your child's safety and comfort are our priority. If you have any questions or concerns about dental sedation our team of dental professionals would be happy to discuss them with you.