Why Kids Should See a Dentist

It is a sad fact that the dental health of our children is in a state of decline. Recent studies show that 60% of children 15 years old or younger have at least one, if not more cavities. This trend should be easy to stop when you consider the advancements the dental industry. Our office wants to partner with our parents to create a system to help improve the dental health for all of our young patients.

Our Northridge dentist agrees with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) belief that a child should see a dentist by their first birthday. This makes dental visits more routine and adds familiarity to dental care. There are other reasons kids should see a dentist on a regular basis.

• Our pedodontist in Northridge is great helping children to relax while attending to their dental needs. This sets up a positive feeling for the next visits.

• Children often learn by example. If your child sees how to brush and floss correctly they will likely learn correct techniques. Additionally, some children respond better to the recommendations of a professional than they do when hearing the same advice from parents.

• Sometimes a dentist is the first medical professional to see the signs of other disorders. You child’s pediatrician may not notice signs of teeth grinding, but our dentist would spot that immediately and alert you to the problem. This gives you valuable insight and can help you to manage your child’s over all health in the best and most efficient way possible.

• Early prevention of cavities, gum disease, and other maladies gives your child the keys to good dental health. Visiting our dentist allows us to spot problems and intervene as soon as possible. Many dental issues are easily remedied when caught early by a professional.

• A proper professional cleaning is good for you at every age and stage of your life.
We understand it is easy to become busy, so our office will schedule and remind you about your child’s appointment upon request. 

Sedation Options for Children

There are differing opinions about using sedation in children’s dental treatments. In our office, we believe that removing the fear and showing a child that a visit to the dentist is not a frightful and painful experience will help build a lifetime of proper oral care. We always use the minimal amount of sedation on all of our patients and, we would never go against a parent’s wishes regarding pediatric sedation.
Here are a few different kinds of sedation that we use in our office.

• Nitrous oxide- Commonly known as laughing gas, nitrous oxide offers light sedation and an anesthetic effect. It comes to the patient mixed with oxygen via a mask which fits over the nose. Because patients inhale nitrous oxide, it is easy for our dentist to control. There are no long-lasting effects, and patients do not spend an extended period in a sleepy and groggy state because nitrous oxide wears off soon after the gas flow stops.

• Oral Sedation- This form of sedation gives patients a deeper level of relaxation than nitrous oxide. Our dentist gives patients a pill to calm any anxiety, before the dental procedure. The effects are longer lasting than nitrous oxide, and your child will wake up groggy. Because of the lasting effects of oral sedation, we recommend that your child go home to rest after the dental treatment and not return to school.

• Intravenous(IV) Sedation- Our dentist reserves this sedation for extended procedures or oral surgery, and it is highly unlikely that this would be the first choice in pediatric sedation. IV sedation enters the patient through a vein and has a longer lasting effect that other sedation methods. Because IV sedation typically accompanies complex dental treatments, your child should not return to school or engage in strenuous activities for 24-48 hours after the dental procedure.

There are some situations where pediatric sedation takes the angst out of a dental visit. For instance, if your child has high anxiety that a dental visit would intensify, a light sedative will temper the stress and allow for a positive experience. Also, if your child has cerebral palsy, autism, or Tourette’s syndrome, our East LA Dentist may suggest sedation.

If you have questions or concerns regarding pediatric sedation, do not hesitate to contact our office. Our staff is happy to get you the information you need.