A major part of maintaining dental health for both kids and adults is prevention.

UTAH, UNITED STATES, March 19, 2022 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Why Sedation Dentistry Can Help Kids

A major part of maintaining dental health for both kids and adults is prevention. Prevention encompasses the daily routines of brushing and flossing that are vital, and furthermore prevention includes biannual checkups and professional cleanings.

Unfortunately, the longer one puts off trips to the dentist, the more likely a child is to need even more dental work. Is fear, anxiety, or dread preventing a kid from receiving the dental care they need? Sedation dentistry may be exactly what a child needs. Here, we’ve lined out the five major reasons why sedation dentistry can help kids (all these reasons can be applied to adults suffering dental anxiety as well).

1. Sedation Can Quell a Sensitive Gag Reflex

The gag reflex is a protective instinct of our bodies. It serves to protect the airway from choking and help expel any food or substance that our body believes may be dangerous. While gagging has a natural learning curve as our children begin eating solid foods, some kids have a more sensitive gag reflex than others.

A sensitive gag reflex can inhibit even simple dental procedures such as a cleaning and make the experience deeply uncomfortable for children and more time consuming because of the interruption and necessary moment for recovery. Even a low level of sedation can help suppress the sensitivity of the gag reflex thereby allowing their pediatric dentist and/or dental hygienist to work carefully and quickly with the minimum amount of discomfort for a child.

If one knows or suspect that their child has a sensitive gag reflex, please inform the pediatric dentist. We can inform one about available sedation options that are appropriate to address this concern.

2. Sedation Helps Dental Procedures Proceed More Quickly

Utah Pediatric Dentists are committed to providing children with a positive dental experience. We demonstrate that by the time and thought we invested in creating an inviting atmosphere in our offices, and selecting staff who love children and have completed the appropriate training and certifications to work in a pediatric dentistry. We spend time, gladly, to provide for the comfort and reassurance while working with kids on their dental needs. This is our job and we do not begrudge the time necessary to ensure each child feels secure. Nevertheless, for children who are anxious, or who struggle to sit still for a procedure, sedation dentistry is typically a time saver. Sedation dentist will allow the procedure to move along smoothly with little to no disturbances or interruptions.

3. Sedation Can Have a Positive Side Effect of Anterograde Amnesia

One may be wondering why amnesia can be considered a positive side effect. For some kids the combination of fear and anxiety about a dental procedure in conjunction with the noises necessary for certain procedures is incredibly stressful. Anterograde amnesia is a desired outcome because it prevents the brain from constructing a memory of the procedure thereby precluding the potential for new fear to build on top of the existing fears.

4. Sedation Provides Relief from Pain

When a child is under sedation for a dental procedure, they literally will not feel any pain. Fear of pain is a major factor in both adults and children in regard to dental care avoidance and that is such a lamentable and avoidable truth. Our pediatric dentists have all completed years of extra training to provide dental care to children painlessly. If fear of pain is keeping ones child from routine dental checkups and cleanings, please talk to us.

5. Sedation Dentistry Can Reduce the Number of Office Visits

Using sedation for dental procedures can also reduce the number of visits necessary for a child. For example, some dental procedures are rather complex, and children, even teenagers can only sit still for long under. When a complex procedure may need to be drawn out over a couple of days in order not to overly tax a child’s patience, instead we should discuss sedation options. Utilizing dental sedation will allow us to complete those complex procedures in one sitting, thereby eliminating the discomfort of a day or two of only a partially completed procedure. Another added benefit? It’s easier scheduling for parents as well; find one afternoon in ones schedule instead of two in a row.

Sedation Dentistry is a Term that Encompasses Multiple Levels and Options

Each of our pediatric dentistry offices offers three different sedation dentistry options:

Oral Sedation (medicines prescribed by our pediatric dentists)

Nitrous Oxide (also known as laughing gas)

Intravenous Sedation

Oral Sedation is often (although not always) used in conjunction with nitrous oxide for an effect that allows a child to relax yet remain awake for the dental appointment. Intravenous sedation injects sedation directly to the blood stream, yet does not automatically indicate a deep sedation.

Sedation Dentistry is a Conversation With Your Pediatric Dentist

If one is interested in how utilizing some form of sedation dentistry can help ones child have a better experience, please reach out. Each and everyone one of our pediatric dentists are specially trained and experienced in performing office sedation dentistry. Combined, they have completed more than 30,000 sedation procedures. ones child is in safe hands with us.

If a child suffers from anxiety or fear of the dentist, sedation dentistry could be the answer for this situation. For tips on how to address childrens fears of the dentist, check out our recent article, ‘How We Help Kids Conquer Fear of the Dentist Office‘.

Scheduling Kids Cleanings with Utah Pediatric Dentists

It’s a new year, and after the holiday crush, it’s an excellent time to get back on track with a childs dental care. Schedule a checkup at any of our convenient locations. Each office is staffed and equipped for dental sedation, so choose the location for your needs and call us today!

Matthew Frand
Utah Pediatric Dentists
+1 435-580-8800
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