As you call a new pediatric dental office to make an appointment for your child, you start to worry. Dental visits have never been easy for your kid, but you know that dental care is important. While on the phone, you express your concerns with the person on the phone, who reassures you that sedation dentistry is available for all kinds of patients.
Perhaps you thought it was just for those who are afraid of the dentist, but the truth is that many patients can benefit from sedation. Here are the four main groups of kids who can have a positive, productive dental visit with this help.
Kids with Anxiety
One of the most common reasons to take advantage of sedation dentistry is to alleviate dental fear. The sights, sounds, and smells of a dental office can feel intimidating to an adult, but even more so for little kids. Thankfully, nitrous oxide sedation gently removes anxiety and replaces it with a calm, content feeling. Or, in the case of general anesthesia, kids simply fall asleep and wake up when it’s all over.
Kids Getting Long Treatment
As a parent, you are likely familiar with the high energy kids can have. These days, some kids are constantly moving and have a hard time sitting still. You may have trouble with getting them to stay in one spot for more than a minute.
Sometimes, it can be difficult just to keep them still long enough to get through dinner! These children can also struggle to sit for an extended period of time at the dentist’s office, but sedation can calm their energy down and enable them to be examined and treated.
Kids with a Sensitive Gag Reflex
Even if a child can sit still and doesn’t feel afraid or anxious, dental visits can be hard. If they gag easily, having someone’s hands in their mouth can be uncomfortable to say the least and prevent necessary care. Sedation dentistry relaxes this reflex, which means the dentist can accomplish the procedure, and the patient can stay comfortable throughout the appointment.
Kids with Special Needs
Children with special needs are at an increased risk of tooth decay and other issues because at-home dental care can be especially challenging. Fortunately, many pediatric dentists accommodate young patients with physical or developmental special needs. In addition to having specific training, this dentist can take advantage of sedation to perform the work that needs to be done without putting additional stress on the patient.
In the end, many young patients can take advantage of sedation dentistry in order to have a better experience in the chair. Your pediatric dentist can make these visits much more comfortable and feasible for your child, ensuring their long-term dental health. As you hang up the phone with your kid’s dental appointment scheduled, you breathe a sigh of relief.
About the Practice
At Wash Park Pediatric Dentistry, which is located in Denver, Dr. Patrick Bowman and Dr. Samantha Graffeo are board-certified pediatric dentists with years of advanced training and clinical experience. They are also both parents. Dr. Bowman has two young children, and Dr. Graffeo is a mother of three. As a result, they know how to help patients with any of the needs mentioned above. If you think your child could benefit from sedation dentistry, call the office at 720-647-6310 or visit the Contact Us page here.