Sedation Dentistry for Kids

We totally understand that sometimes kids get nervous at the dentist. A little anxiousness is to be expected for many children in a new situation. Usually, our friendly staff can win over patients. However, sometimes children are more anxious, which can lead to them squirming during a treatment or even refusing to be treated. When that is the case, sedation dentistry can help. 

Sedation has been used in dentistry in various forms for some time, whether it is local anesthesia to decrease pain and discomfort or rendering the patient unconscious for the duration of the procedure. Should your child need dental treatment, there are a few options that we offer in order to provide the best possible pediatric care for your child.

Options include:

1. Local Anesthesia - This is always the simplest option and is common in many dental procedures. It involves injecting a numbing medication around the area to be treated. This is often combined with nitrous oxide. 

2. Nitrous Oxide - Also known as “laughing gas,” this can be a supplement to a local anesthetic to help relax a patient. Since the patient remembers most of the procedure, it does not work well for children who are dental phobic or cannot sit still through dental treatment. This process is best used to reduce minor anxiety.

3. Oral Sedation - This can be a great option for a moderately nervous child when the planned treatment is expected to last a little longer. The child is given a syrup to drink which has a sedative effect to relax patients for the procedure. The medication often takes 20 minutes to work, so parents will need to take an active role in administering it to the child.  

4. General Anesthesia - When children need a lot of dental treatment, or their fear is too great to accomplish treatment in the dental chair, general anesthesia is a comfortable and safe option that allows the dentist to perform the needed treatment. This level of care can be rendered with the help of an anesthesiologist. 

If your child is nervous about the dentist, let us know and we can discuss the best options during your next visit to Wasatch Pediatric Dentistry in Providence, UT. We want to make every dentist visit as comfortable and positive as possible for the child!