What Sedation is Used for Pediatric Dentistry?
Pediatric sedation dentistry involves using prescription medications to ease physical and mental discomfort during intense dental procedures.
Your dentist wouldn’t ask you to endure a dental extraction or other painful procedure without help, and this is also applicable to children. But you will want to find a partner who is aware of the safety risks associated with pediatric sedation dentistry. Your child’s overall health should always come first.
5 Types of Pediatric Sedation Dentistry Products
Your child won’t be aware of each painful sensation during pediatric sedation dentistry procedures. Your dentist has plenty of tools to choose from to make that happen.
Pediatric sedation dentistry options include:
- Nitrous oxide. Your child breathes this medication through the nose before and during the procedure. This method is sometimes called conscious sedation pediatric dentistry, as your child remains awake.
- Sedating oral medications. Drugs given before the procedure make your child feel sleepy, and your child may not remember anything about the procedure. But your child may be able to respond to simple directions from the dentist, such as, “Open your mouth.”
- Intravenous medications. A needle is used to deliver medication into your child’s bloodstream. Your child won’t be awake at all.
- General anesthesia. A combination of IV and breathed medications place your child in a twilight state during the procedure.
Parents rarely choose a child’s anesthesia options. Instead, your child’s dental needs guide the drug choice your doctor uses. The more significant the procedure, the stronger the solution.
Is Pediatric Sedation Safe?
Skilled professionals know how to administer the right medications and monitor their patients to ensure they stay healthy.
In general, pediatric sedation dentistry is considered safe if two people watch your child during the procedure. One should monitor your child’s critical vital signs, such as heart rate and blood oxygen level. The other should perform the procedure. Any dentist who wants to tackle both tasks at once might not be right for you.
Find Pediatric Sedation Dentistry Near Me
Parents searching for conscious sedation pediatric dentistry are often facing a deadline. Their children are hurting, and they want to find the quickest solution possible.
If you’re in Florida, we can help. We offer pediatric sedation dentistry, including conscious options, and we’ve helped hundreds of families just like yours. Contact us to find out how these appointments work and how we can assist you.