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.

Children and Their Dental Health

Dental health is an essential component of overall well-being for children. With possible impact on their early quality of life, as well as long-term development and systemic health, childhood oral health should be safeguarded by all parents. Certain lifestyle factors can worsen childhood dental health, but a sound strategy and teaching them how to keep good dental hygiene, will make a major positive difference.

Childhood Dental Health Factors

Children can experience worse dental health in the long run due to orofacial developmental problems, poor dental hygiene or dietary issues. When mouth breathing or thumb sucking threaten oral development, braces can prevent long-term physical changes and associated complications. Daily brushing and flossing must be performed, while excessive consumption of sugary foods and drinks should be avoided.

Preventive Options

In-office preventive treatments can reduce risks of dental problems in children. At the office of our expert in children’s dentistry in Northridge, parents have access to sealants, fluoride and bonding treatments to help guard their children against tooth decay.

With good dental health, children are more likely to have better self-confidence, good digestion and optimal oral development. A combination of at-home and in-office preventive dental techniques is ideal to promote healthy teeth and gums in children. At a consultation with our Northridge dentist, parents can learn more about how to help their children maintain good dental health.