Dental anxiety is common among children. The unusual sensations, sounds, and sights of the dental office aren’t always the most pleasant experience for little ones. If your child suffers from dental anxiety, sedation dentistry is a wonderful and safe option to help your child feel at ease in the dental chair and receive the care necessary to help them maintain a healthy smile. At Shaenfield Pediatric Dentistry, we offer a few different sedation options depending on your child’s individual needs.
What Is Sedation Dentistry?
Sedation dentistry uses anesthetic or sedation to help a dental patient feel relaxed and at ease during their dental procedure. Sedation dentistry isn’t just for those who suffer from dental anxiety. It’s a great option if a patient has special needs, or has a strong gag reflex and cannot receive dental care comfortably. It’s also a good option for a patient who has to endure a long procedure or series of procedures at once.
Is Sedation Safe?
Sedation dentistry is very safe when overseen by a trained professional. We perform careful assessments of our patients before administering any sedation. We also carefully monitor each patient while they are under sedation.
Nitrous Oxide
Nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, is a very mild form of sedation that is administered through a soft mask that goes over your child’s nose. This sweet-smelling gas will help them feel relaxed but conscious during their treatment. The effects of laughing gas wear off soon after the mask is removed, so your child won’t feel out of it after their procedure is over.
Oral Conscious Sedation
Oral conscious sedation is a more moderate form of sedation. It is administered in liquid or pill format that is prescribed to your child before their appointment. This type of sedation helps your child feel very relaxed, and they may fall asleep during treatment. The effects of oral conscious sedation take time to wear off after treatment, so be sure to give your child time to recover afterwards.
General Anesthesia
General anesthesia is the preferred sedation choice for patients undergoing oral surgery. This is an especially deep form of sedation that helps your child stay in a restful sleep throughout their treatment and is one we take extra precaution monitoring.
Pediatric Dentistry in San Antonio, TX
If you are looking for a comprehensive pediatric dental office in San Antonio, you’ve come to the right place! Our empathic, friendly staff looks forward to welcoming your child to our office and providing them with top-notch, affordable care. Please call our office at 210-672-4200 or book an appointment with us online to get started. We look forward to serving your family!