A visit to the dentist is not complete without a physical examination to check your dental health. These tests and procedures sometimes involve needles and widening the mouth, which can be painful to children. Dentists also require the children to stay in one position for a few minutes or hours, depending on the procedure, which children can’t.
Dentists often use children’s sedation to calm them and numb the pain till after the test and procedures. One can use minimal sedation, moderate sedation, or deep sedation, depending on how long the procedure will take.
What is Pediatric Sedation?
Dentists require their patients to hold still while carrying out imaging exams, most of which are quick and painless. However, the dentist will use minimal sedation to get the child to settle and follow instructions throughout the process. This is usually a sedative or tranquilizing drug administered in doses.
Pediatric sedation dentistry relieves anxiety, reduces pain, and keeps the patient calm. Dentists often use general anesthesia or monitored anesthesia care.
Levels of Pediatric Sedation
Below are the levels of sedation used in pediatric sedation dentistry near Eastvale:
Minimal/Moderate Sedation- in minimal/moderate sedation, the dentist administers a sedative to lower your child’s anxiety, allowing them to respond positively to instruction. Here, the child can breathe comfortably without help.
General Anesthesia– in this level, your child is unaware of their surroundings and feels no pain. Patients often find it difficult to breathe on their own and are mechanically assisted. Dentists recommend this level of sedation for pro-longed procedures, including jawline reconstruction.
Deep Sedation– it is also referred to as monitored sedation and is used to reduce a patient’s ability to feel or remember the pain. Under monitored sedation, the patient can breathe on their own and are comfortable throughout the procedure.
Pediatric sedation is a vast topic involving preparation, side effects, and uses when it can be used. For more information, contact Kids Dental Specialists, who focus on pediatric sedation dentistry near Eastvale.
