Relax with Sedation Dentistry

Fear of the dentist is a common problem. In mild-to-moderate cases, it can make even routine procedures like a dental exam and teeth cleaning incredibly stressful and uncomfortable for your child. In extreme cases, dental fears and anxiety can make it difficult to even get your child into the dentist’s chair, putting their smile and oral health at risk.

At Oasis Pediatric Dental Care and Orthodontics in Falls Church, Virginia, our pediatric dentists Dr. Nathalie Phaeton and Dr. Ki Youn Kil and our staff offer sedation dentistry services to help keep your child comfortable and relaxed during their appointment.

Sedation dentistry is the antidote to dental anxiety

Even adults face a fear of going to the dentist, whether it’s because of the office’s smell or because they fear drills or pain. Like adults, children experience dental fears and phobias in various degrees, so one child may find going to the dentist unpleasant but still manage to get through an appointment with no major issues. 

On the other end of the spectrum, some children are so scared that getting them to the dentist’s office at all is close to impossible.

Sedation dentistry helps children stay calm during their dental procedure so that the dentist can work safely, and it also helps them have a more pleasant experience while at the office so they might even actually look forward to their next appointment!

One of the most common and effective forms of sedation dentistry for children is nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas. With laughing gas, children feel relaxed and calm throughout their procedure, but they’re still fully conscious and awake and can communicate with the dentist and dental hygienists. 

The effects of laughing gas wear off shortly after the treatment, and there’s no discomfort or side effects to worry about. 

Depending on the procedure and your child’s individual circumstances, other forms of sedation may be more effective than nitrous oxide. Depending on the level of sedation needed, Hospital Dentistry can be also scheduled to obtain deep sedation. 

With mild-to-moderate sedation, your child will still be awake and mostly alert, but they won’t feel discomfort or pain. With deep sedation and general anesthesia, they’ll be completely asleep throughout the procedure and won’t remember it afterward.

Before your child’s procedure, our dentists will discuss all of the sedation options with you and recommend the best one depending on your child’s needs and circumstances.

Sedation dentistry is an invaluable tool to help children and adults living with dental anxiety and phobias to get through their dental treatments. Nitrous oxide and anesthesia are safe and available for both younger and older children and teens.

For more information about our sedation dentistry services for children, call our office in Falls Church, Virginia at 703-498-2440, or schedule an appointment online!