When dentists use medication to help patients relax, it is called sedation dentistry. It may also be called sleep dentistry, but this is not an accurate description because most patients are awake during the procedure. Sedation dentistry has obvious benefits for patients, especially children, because they don’t have to experience anxiety or fear during dental procedures, but when the child is relaxed, it also helps the dentist.
With sedation dentistry, anxiety or fear of visiting the dentist is gone. For some children, thinking about visiting the dentist is more stressful than actually sitting in the dentist’s chair. They may be anxious for weeks before they even get the courage to come in for an appointment. Once they experience sedation dentistry, the fear and anxiety will disappear.
Anticipating discomfort is another reason why children avoid the dentist. Ironically, the longer your child avoids the dentist, the more discomfort may be felt during corrective procedures. With sedation dentistry, your child will feel no intense discomfort at all. Knowing this helps many children when it comes to visiting our office.
Sedation dentistry is also beneficial for the dentist. Many patients, especially children, constantly complain and fidget when they are in the dental chair, and this holds up the dentist from doing the work that needs to be done. With sedation dentistry, the work will go faster and you and your child will be in and out of our office in a timelier manner.
Since our dentist can work for longer periods of time when the patient is sedated, fewer appointments may be necessary. In many cases, our dentist can perform several procedures at one stretch that would ordinarily have required several appointments.
There are various options when it comes to sedation dentistry at our office. We are proud to offer local anesthesia, nitrous oxide, IV sedation and even general anesthesia. The form of sedation used during treatment will depend on a variety of factors, including the work being done and the patient’s wants and needs.
When you consult with our specialist at Ashburn Children’s Dentistry, you may learn more about sedation dentistry and how it can allow your child to relax while at our office. This may be the best option for your child to have and maintain healthy gums and teeth. Contact us today to schedule an appointment for your child at our office in Ashburn, VA.
