All About Sedation Dentists

As all parents can attest to, finding a reliable and experienced oral practitioner for your children is never an easy task. Even if you think you may have found your ideal choice, many children can find the experience to be rather scary, thus making the selection process all the more difficult. However, in recent years many parents have turned to the expertise of their local sedation dentist as a way to alleviate any fears and anxieties their children may have. In this article, we will outline this dental profession in hopes of providing greater insight into the considerations and general practice techniques to expect.

Considerations - These practices should always take the time to consult each patient’s general physician prior to scheduling any appointment. In this way, the dentist will be able to avoid any risks and complications that might occur due to the use of the medication provided.

Features - During treatments, nitrous-oxide will be delivered to the child though a nosepiece. This technique works to relax the patient while avoiding many of the added dangers that are commonly associated with general anesthetics.

Prevention/Solution - Because the patient is relaxed and at ease, the sedation methods used may actually cause an increase in safety due to the fact that they will be much less likely to move suddenly, allowing the physician to accomplish their work without interruption.

Complications - While complications are quite rare, potential risks include obstruction of the airway, oxygen desaturation, apnea, cardiac arrest and death. Once again, all of these risks can easily be lessened by speaking with your child’s general physician prior to engaging in any sedation dentistry procedures.

Pediatrics - During your search, you may run into physician who claim to specialize in sedation dentistry but have little experience in pediatrics. Be sure that the individual you are dealing with has the required knowledge and expertise needed to treat your child.

Finding Your Physician - There are many ways to go about finding your ideal physician. A few tips include asking friends and family for recommendations, checking with your child’s educational facility and the internet. Make sure to be thorough in your search, and when in doubt, bring your child in to meet with the physician in question. Lastly, be sure to go with your gut. Keep in mind that there are many options available to you, and don’t settle for a practitioner whom you feel is unfit for your family.