Safe Sedation Kids

Going to the dentist can be a daunting experience for anyone. Children, in particular, may be anxious about visiting the dentist. While sitting for a teeth cleaning and exam may not be a problem, allowing the dentist to perform more complicated procedures such as filling a cavity or extracting a tooth may be challenging.

Fortunately, at Dr. Beanca Chu’s Children's Dentistry, we offer sedation dentistry to help children have a pain-free experience no matter what the procedure. As a parent, you may wonder if sedation is safe. Read on to learn more about why sedation is a safe choice for your child.

What is Sedation and Why Use It?

There may be any number of reasons to consider sedation dentistry for your child. They may not be able to sit still. They may be frightened by the sound of a dental drill. Perhaps they have special needs or experience anxiety about dental visits. Whatever the case may be, sedation dentistry may be the solution. Sedation dentistry employs the use of gases or medication to relax a patient in order to get through dental treatment that would otherwise be difficult to handle.

As part of their training, all pediatric dentists have studied how to safely administer sedation to young patients. The medicines for sedation have been in use for decades, and their properties are well-known. Sedation dentistry has several benefits. Your child is likely to have no memory of the procedure. Your child will experience no sense of time during the procedure. There will be no sense of smell or sound while under sedation. Any fear or anxiety your child has will lessen or disappear while sedated.

Best of all, sedation dentistry provides a pain-free experience. Recovery from the use of sedation is quick. Any side effects a child may experience are usually mild and may include sleepiness, nausea, or headaches. If your child is being sedated for a procedure, you may ask to stay with your child until they are drowsy. Once the procedure is complete, you may be invited to sit with them as they recover from their procedure. It won't take very long for them to be ready to go home.

Types of Sedation

There are four different types of sedation used at Dr. Beanca Chu’s Children's Dentistry. During some types of sedation, your child's heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, and oxygen level will be monitored.

Nitrous Oxide

Also known as "laughing gas," nitrous oxide is the most common and least invasive type of sedation. Through the nose, patients breathe in a mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen. It only takes about five minutes for the effects of this mixture to take hold. Nitrous oxide will not put your child to sleep. Instead, it will relax your child's nervous system. They will still be aware of their surroundings and able to follow any directions the dentist gives them.

While breathing in nitrous oxide, your child may feel lightheaded or silly. Once the mask dispensing the nitrous oxide is removed, recovery takes about five minutes. Any side effects should be mild and may include nausea or fatigue. These side effects may be reduced by only eating lightly before the dental appointment.

Mild Sedation

Mild sedation may be administered in the form of medicine taken through the mouth or the nose. Once the medication takes hold—this usually takes about 20 minutes—your child will be awake, but calm. Just as with nitrous oxide, they will be able to follow the dentist's directions. If your child is receiving a mild sedative for a dental procedure, they should not eat or drink anything after midnight the day before the appointment. Afterwards, they may not remember the procedure at all. Typical recovery from this type of sedation takes just a few hours.

Moderate Sedation

As with the milder forms of sedation, moderate—or conscious—sedation does not put a child to sleep, though it does make them sleepier and offers deep relaxation. Moderate sedation is better suited to older children than younger children. Some preparation is required at home before going under moderate sedation at the dentist's office.

An IV is often used to deliver medication for moderate sedation. An advantage of this type of sedation is that medication can continue to be dispensed in the event of a longer procedure. It may take several hours for a child to recover completely after being under moderate sedation. They may feel nauseated, drowsy, or confused. They should take it easy for the remainder of the day.

Deep Sedation

For longer procedures, your pediatric dentist may suggest deep sedation. During this type of sedation, your child will drift between consciousness and unconsciousness. They will not be able to respond to commands. A second professional will be in the room to help monitor your child throughout a procedure using deep sedation. Upon conclusion of the procedure, this professional will determine when your child has awoken enough to go home. Once home, they will need time to recover from the sedation.

Preparation at Home

To prepare your child for sedation, you may want to explain what will happen at their appointment. They should dress in loose, comfortable clothes. It might soothe them to bring a favorite small toy or stuffed animal. For several of the different types of sedation, it is important not to eat or drink after midnight the night before. Check with your dentist for specific instructions for your child's sedation. It may be okay for your child to have clear liquid up until their appointment. Before deciding on sedation for your child's dental procedure, make sure to tell your child's dentist about any medications your child is taking.

General Anesthesia

In cases where there is an emergency, extensive work to be done, or it isn't safe to perform a procedure at the dental office, your pediatric dentist may suggest general anesthesia. This would be done at a hospital with several professionals on hand to see your child safely through the procedure.

Is Sedation Right for Your Child?

If your child has anxiety or special needs, you may be considering sedation during dental work. Learn the facts about each type of sedation and talk to your pediatric dentist about which might best meet the needs of your child. If you have any questions about sedation and how sedation might be safely used to help your child with a dental procedure, don't hesitate to contact us. We'll be happy to walk you through all the options.