Is Sedation Dentistry Safe for Kids?

When your child struggles with dental anxiety, sedation dentistry can soothe their fears so they can still receive necessary oral health care. But is it safe for kids? We answer that question and more here.

If your child fears getting dental work done, they’re certainly not the only one. In fact, studies estimate that around one in five children and teens in the United States have dental anxiety, and that’s very understandable. Going to the dentist can be terrifying for kids.

Thankfully, an effective solution exists for children with dental anxiety: sedation dentistry. It provides a way for your child to be comfortable and at ease for the entirety of whatever dental procedure (or procedures) they need.

At Supertooth located in Bethesda, Germantown, and Gaithersberg, Maryland, our pediatric dental team understands the unique concerns and fears that kids have surrounding dental work, and we’re passionate about helping our young patients feel more comfortable so that we can set them up for a lifetime of great dental health. And this is exactly why we offer sedation dentistry at our practice.

In this month’s blog, we highlight the safety and efficacy of sedation dentistry for children to provide you with some peace of mind.

Why do so many kids fear the dentist?

As stated above, dental anxiety in children and teens is very prevalent, but it’s also important to understand that it’s just as common in adults. In fact, it’s even worse. Research tells us that between 50-80% of American adults struggle with some form of dental anxiety.

It’s not really a surprise, then, that kids “inherit” these anxieties from the adults in their lives.

Our team acknowledges that many fears surrounding the dentist are warranted. Even though modern dentistry has made leaps and bounds in the areas of comfort and effectiveness, the noises and proximity of dental work are still alarming.

We also know that even though we ensure that your dental procedures are virtually painless through anesthetics, the negative connotations often win out. Enter sedation dentistry.

Sedation dentistry for children

For pediatric dental anxiety, we offer a few different types of sedation:

Nitrous oxide

More commonly known as laughing gas, this technique is a type of conscious sedation. It’s considered a very safe form of sedation for kids because it’s not general anesthesia and your child will never lose consciousness. In addition, their airways and reflexes are maintained and they’ll still be able to respond to verbal commands.

Mild to moderate sedation

This combination of medications is typically used on older children, although younger children with severe dental anxiety may benefit from it. They will remain awake and may even be able to still respond to verbal commands. However, they’ll be very calm and relaxed during the procedure, and may not remember anything about the visit.

Deep sedation

For this level of sedation, the medications are given through an intravenous (IV) line. Your child should fall completely asleep though they may still move around a little or make some noise. They may not be able to breathe well on their own, so this requires several other personnel to be present, and it should only be considered in severe cases.

If you’d like more information on the safety or efficacy of sedation dentistry for your child, simply schedule a consultation by calling your nearest office location or using our online booking feature today.