Harp Pediatric Dentistry in Palm Harbor, FL makes a point to take attentive care of every patient and soothe their fears, but sometimes an extra boost is needed to make dental appointments easier. Our experts have years of training in the administration of safe pediatric sedation techniques. If your child has a sensitive gag reflex, finds it hard to sit still, or deals with developmental issues that complicate dental treatment, sedation dentistry can be effective in keeping things more comfortable all around.
Nitrous Oxide Sedation
Nitrous oxide is the mildest form of sedation. Your child breathes through a mask and may get the giggles. Nitrous oxide wears off within minutes after dental work is done, and to ensure your child has a clear head, they breathe pure oxygen through the mask for a few minutes before you leave.
- If your child can tolerate wearing a mask, nitrous oxide can be a useful form of sedation.
- Your child will seem woozy, breathing independently, and able to respond to verbal cues.
- Your child will be relaxed during treatment and should return to their usual selves quickly.
Nitrous oxide is an option your dentist may offer to help make you more comfortable during certain procedures. It’s not intended as sleep medicine, so children will be able to respond and hear what’s going on around them without feeling sleepy or heavy-headed—though some find their arms and legs feel lighter after inhaling this gas! The effects should wear off shortly afterward. In case it doesn’t then your child belongs to a small ratio.
In such a situation, we will keep the child under observation till the effects wear off. We’ll perform a short exam to make sure that the child is back to their senses. To be extra careful, we have a team on standby who are ready to control any sort of problem arriving from this method of sedation.
IV Sedation
IV sedation is used when treatment may be too extensive for a child. It is commonly used for long, extensive dental treatments, for children with extreme anxiety or those with more pronounced disabilities or developmental issues that make dental treatment difficult.
- Our dentists work with pediatric anesthesiologists for the safest possible sedation experience.
- Anesthesia and sedation are administered separately, but sedation works together with anesthesia for pain control and alleviation of physical discomfort.
During intravenous sedation, a needle is inserted into your child’s vein, typically into the arm or hand. The major benefit is that they can give a heavier dosage of medicine during lengthy procedures which will keep him/her relaxed – this type of anesthesia has been used by dentists since 2000! Home preparation may vary depending on the temperament of your child but most patients experience some level of discomfort afterward so make sure that you’ve briefed your child before going through with something like IV Sedative Therapy (which also includes oral pills).
Hospital Dentistry
Hospital dentistry is the dental care for patients with medical issues that can hinder their treatment process.
Hospital dentistry is especially important for kids since their age demands them to be carefree and all over the place. A dental office is a place that is fully equipped to deal with children in a much more efficient manner and makes them calm down so the proper dental procedures and treatments can be carried out easily.
To know more or to schedule your appointment, kindly give us a call!
