Preparing Your Child for Sedation - Guidance from Dental Experts

Is your child going for an extensive dental treatment? Are you worried about how the sedation will impact your child? It would help if you prepared your child for the upcoming sedation dentistry. No matter what age a child is, there is always a chance that they might undergo some form of dental treatment that might even require sedation. Some dentists recommend sedation for these reasons:

● If the child suffers from dental anxiety

● If the procedure is lengthy 

● If it requires oral surgery

● If the child is not willing to sit still

As a concerned parent, the child's dental appointment with sedation might bother you. It is standard; however, to minimize your concern and feel more comfortable, you should prepare by reading the advice below.

1. Exciting ways you can prepare a child for oral sedation dentistry

If your child needs specialized dental care requiring sedation, you don't want to leave everything upon chance. It would help if you visited a dentist specializing in sedation dental care. You may consult Dr.Pagniano Jr. pediatric dentist, for the best dental advice.

2. Make your child fast for 12 hours

For most sedation dental appointments, your child should fast the night before and even on the day the procedure occurs. It ensures that the oral anesthetic will be administered and take proper effect. However, just like adults don't like fasting, the child might also not like it; therefore, to calm the child in the best possible way, you should try fasting with the child. It will make them feel better, and they will tend to complain less. In fact, they will feel be comfortable when they know that somebody they trust is already taking the initiative in this procedure.

3. Make them comfortable

If a child is offering sedation dentistry, they are likely undergoing a serious dental procedure, which might frighten you and your child; therefore, comfort becomes mandatory. 

You should follow the recommendations listed below:

i. Make them wear comfortable clothes

ii. Let them carry anything that they find comfort in, be it a favorite blanket or soft toy

iii. Always give them words of affirmation to enhance their confidence 

iv. Both parents should accompany them

v. Do not have any other plans for the day

If you follow these tips, it is more likely that the child will successfully have the dental procedure done.

4. Comforting a child after sedation is also significant

As soon as your daughter or son begins to come out of the sedation, they may react in several ways. Sometimes, the child is confused and scared; they might feel goofy, sick, or even cry. Any reaction is normal and will only disappear when the anesthetic effect fades. Before the child is discharged, the child will be monitored to ensure that they have a healthy recovery and are not facing any unfortunate or rare side effects. As a parent, you should try to comfort them in the best possible manner.

5. Stay open and honest

Many kids don't like to be treated like children. Various research-based studies have found that well-informed children about the procedure are likelier to sit comfortably because they know what is coming. Although parents find it tempting to protect their children by avoiding discussing intimate details of any surgical operation, it is not an effective strategy. What can be more practical is openly debating every aspect of the surgery and telling them the benefits so they will know what to expect. 

Make your child's dental procedure a comfortable experience!