3 Comfort Methods We Provide for Your Child
When it comes to the dentist, has your child ever expressed genuine fear ahead of their appointment? Do they have trouble sitting still while being examined or do they simply have extensive dental needs? If you answered yes to any of these questions, our Grandville pediatric dentists may suggest some form of .
Here are the 3 types of comfort methods involving sedation that we can administer so your child feels relaxed throughout their time with us.
Sedation Dentistry: What Is It?
One of our specializations inside of our Grandville pediatric dental office includes sedation dentistry. This means that we offer multiple forms of sedation to aid in the completion of necessary dental treatment while also easing nerves in children. Sedation can be a safe option to try when it otherwise proves difficult for your child to relax.
Because all patients are different, not everyone may be given the same type of sedation. Each method depends on the treatment your child needs done and their overall level of dental anxiety. Our pediatric dentists will always discuss every detail with you before getting started so everyone is on the same page.
To Help Ease Dental Anxiety, Our Staff Offers:
1. Laughing Gas
When you think of sedation at the dentist, there’s a good chance that laughing gas pops into your head first. Laughing gas is a safe, mild sedative that is administered through a mask placed over the nose.
Patients are instructed to inhale the gas by breathing in and out through the nose while our dentists perform the desired treatment. Despite the excitable name, laughing gas will make your child relaxed and calm although uncontrollable giggles are not an uncommon side effect.
Your child will be able to remain awake and cooperative while inhaling the laughing gas. This type of sedative is commonly used in our office for restorative procedures (fillings, dental crowns, tooth extractions) or for children who experience high levels of dental anxiety.
2. Oral Conscious Sedation
Another mild sedative, is provided to your child in the form of ingestible medication. This comfort method is offered in our office and is also generally recommended for children who are overly anxious or fidgety in the dental chair.
Our experienced dental team will oversee the administration of the oral sedation before the procedure can begin and make sure your child is taken care of throughout. Much like laughing gas, your child will likely not fall asleep but will be in a calm state.
If helpful, young patients are also allowed to listen to music or bring a stuffed animal to enjoy while they lie in the chair. Overall, oral sedation can help reduce the number of instances that your child has to come into our office for treatment as more can be done in one visit.
3. General Anesthesia at Hospital(or In-Office)
When other methods of sedation are not an option, we do offer for patients. This is a more intensive process compared to the other two listed above but remains safe as treatment is monitored by both our dental team and an anesthesia team.
Suitable for more extensive dental procedures or those with severe anxiety, general anesthesia will be administered at a trusted local hospital. Your child will be asleep while under anesthesia but will be continually monitored to ensure they are doing well as our pediatric dentists work to provide all dental treatment in one concise visit.
Would a hospital setting be too stressful for your child? We can have a licensed dental anesthesiologist from CarePoint Anesthesia come in with the necessary equipment for an efficient visit. This option is available upon request so please feel free to discuss this with our team of dentists.
Call Our Office Today
Whether your child is coming in for a routine dental cleaning or a more in-depth procedure, sedation may be right for them. Our pediatric dentists in Grandville, MI, are highly qualified and will work with you to recommend what is best for your child at the time. Call Grandville Pediatric Dentistry today at (616) 531-3430 to request an appointment.