There are two reasons Australian adults avoid going to the dentist. The first reason is the cost, and the second reason is fear. Fear of dentists occurs during a bad experience during childhood dentistry. While there have been many advances in technology since you were a kid, you want to make sure your child does not have bad experiences when at the dentist. Sedation dentistry is the technique of medically calming a child during dental procedures, but this type of dentistry does have positive and negative points attached to it. Learn what these are before your child's next dental appointment.
Pros of dental sedation
One of the biggest benefits of choosing dental sedation is the level of sedation offered varies depending on the procedure. A child who gets nervous at a routine filling or cleaning may receive the lowest level of sedation which is an oral elixir designed to calm nerves. Once taken, the child loses their fear but is aware of everything happening around them during the procedure. Often, the elixir is only needed once because on their next visit, the child remembers how comfortable the prior visit was so there is no longer any anxiety.
For more invasive dental procedures, such as removing badly decayed baby teeth, your child may receive 'laughing gas'. Again, your child is alert enough to tell the dentist if they experience any discomfort, but there is no pain during the procedure, and the child remains calm and relaxed. When sedation is administered during a dental process, your child does not leave the dentist chair refusing ever to return again because there is nothing in the experience which stays negatively in their mind.
Negatives of dental sedation
There are two main negatives associated with dental sedation. The first one is that once a child has experienced dental sedation, they may refuse to have any dental process done again without it. While this is not necessarily a huge issue, the use of sedation can occasionally cause other medical issues, so there is the same low-level of risk as any other sedated person.
Secondly, not all children can have dental sedation because of existing medical conditions. For example, a child who has enlarged tonsils should not be sedated because their airway is already partially obstructed.
Talk to a dentist about dental sedation and whether it is the right choice for your child so they can grow up to be adults who have no fear of dentists. This lack of concern ensures they keep regular dentist appointments, so their teeth remain healthy into their twilight years.
Share28 August 2017
As a retired dentist, I work with charities which visit developing countries and educate children about dental care. It gives me great satisfaction to revisit these communities and see how proud the children are of their efforts. I am acutely aware that good dental hygiene can help prevent a range of serious conditions when these children become older. I started this blog because it greatly distresses me that many people in Australia do not seem to care for their teeth as much as children in these poor communities. This is happening despite ready access to items like toothbrushes and toothpaste which are luxuries in the places I visit. It is my hope that this blog encourages you not to take dental health for granted. My greatest wish is that you can be as inspired as the children I see in my charity work. Please read on and enjoy.
