When considering sedation dentistry for your child in Chino, Chino Hills, Claremont, Norco, Eastvale, Corona, and nearby areas, it’s important to understand the process. We want to provide you with key information to help you make an informed decision.
Dental sedation helps reduce children’s anxiety and discomfort during necessary treatments. Most techniques make children feel drowsy, but this effect wears off after the procedure.
When Do Dentists Use Sedation?
Pediatric dentists now commonly use sedation in various circumstances. Very young children often struggle to stay still for long periods, making it challenging for dentists to perform precise procedures safely. Sedation reduces stress and anxiety for both children and adults, and prevents unintended injuries from uncooperative behavior.
Children often can’t grasp why they need to follow instructions during dental procedures. Even well-behaved kids may become uncooperative in a dental setting. Sedation helps many children relax and have a more positive experience.
Benefits for Special Needs Children
Sedation particularly benefits children with special needs. It helps guide cooperative behavior and prevents unexpected physical movements.
To determine if sedation suits your child, discuss their personality, medical history, and past dental experiences with our pediatric dentists.
Common Types of Sedation
Our office offers several sedation options, each with its own risks and benefits. Our pediatric dentists assess medical history, procedure duration, and each child’s comfort level before recommending a method.
Nitrous Oxide
We may recommend nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, for exceptionally nervous children. A small mask delivers the gas combined with oxygen, allowing comfortable breathing. Nitrous oxide doesn’t put children to sleep; they remain fully conscious throughout the appointment.
Nitrous oxide works quickly and can cause temporary feelings of elation. It’s painless to administer, and the effects wear off within minutes. This quick recovery is a major benefit. Rarely, it may cause mild nausea, so we advise avoiding large meals before the appointment.
After treatment, we deliver pure oxygen to eliminate all nitrous oxide from the child’s body.
IV Sedation
For highly uncooperative or anxious children, or those needing extensive treatment, we may recommend IV sedation. This requires preparation, including obtaining a current medical history, limiting food and drink before the appointment, and planning to stay with the child for several hours afterward.
Some medical conditions may require treatment in a hospital or surgical center. We work with board-certified dental anesthesiologists trained in pediatric anesthesia to ensure expert care during dental treatment.
Safety of Sedation Dentistry for Children
While all medical procedures carry some risks, we take all necessary precautions to ensure your child’s safety during sedation. Our priority is your child’s comfort and well-being while performing essential dental procedures without causing psychological or emotional trauma.
We serve communities in Chino, Chino Hills, Claremont, Corona, Norco, and Eastvale, offering compassionate, quality dental care in a safe environment. Our goal is to help every child maintain optimal oral health.
For questions about sedation dentistry for children in Chino Hills and surrounding areas, contact Kids Dental Specialists today. Visit our Facebook page for more information.
