Taking your child to the dentist can be stressful for everyone involved. Children are afraid of what is going to happen, parents are worried about how the child will behave, and dentists have to spend more time on behavior modeling rather than actually treating the teeth.
Yet, dental visits for children can be made more comfortable for everyone. That process starts from the child's very first dental visit. In a lot of cases, the first time that a child walks into the dental clinic is when there is some pain or swelling that needs to be treated.
Behavior modeling
A refusal to accept dental anesthesia happens because of the fear of a needle or even the fear of not knowing what the dentist is going to do. This is why it is important for parents to not try to get their child to obey through threats or fear tactics. These are just going to reinforce the fear of the child even more and make dental treatment difficult.
One of the tactics that dentists use is to allow the child to observe the treatment of an older sibling or another child so that they can learn what the expected behavior is like and that there is nothing to fear. Being honest with the child and trying to explain what has to be done is also an important aspect. If the child trusts the dentist then he or she is much more likely to accept treatment.
Dental anesthesia for an uncooperative child
Some children are not going to listen to anything that the dentist or parents tell and simply refuse to accept anesthesia. This can make treatments like root canal therapy or extractions next to impossible.
A general dentist may also refer the patient to a pediatric dentist because these dentists are trained in handling difficult children through a combination of behavior modeling techniques. It is recommended that parents take their children to a pediatric dentist and try to get the treatment done in a conventional manner before opting for other sedation techniques.
The use of sedation may also become necessary in case the child requires a lot of dental work and is unwilling to cooperate. Sedation can be of different kinds.
Mild sedation for children who need dental treatment
The use of nitrous oxide, which is breathed in alongside oxygen, is the simplest method of administering mild sedation. The child remains conscious but may feel a little light-headed. A lot of children (and adults) become cheerful and relaxed after breathing in nitrous. This will help them accept anesthesia better. The sedated child will be able to follow the instructions of the dentist and even remember that procedures were carried out.
Moderate sedation for children
A combination of medication is given to children prior to treatment and may even end up making the child sleep during the procedure. In some cases, the children remain dazed but conscious and may even follow some instructions given by the dentist. This kind of sedation is more effective in older children. The breathing continues on its own and the child gets up without any recollection of the procedure carried out.
Deep sedation or general anesthesia
Dentists avoid general anesthesia as much as possible because this kind of sedation carries some innate risks. Deep sedation is carried out in a hospital setting and requires the presence of an anesthesiologist to be present during the procedure. Children who require a lot of dental treatment can be put in deep sedation so that the maximum possible work can be carried out in the shortest possible time.
Is sedation safe for children during dental treatment?
Mild sedation is perfectly safe and is carried out routinely in dental offices around the world. The deeper the sedation, the more are the risks involved as well as the number of trained doctors needed to be around. Parents will need to sign consent forms after understanding the risks involved when a dental procedure is going to be carried out under deep sedation or general anesthesia.
Conclusion
The use of local anesthesia is the simplest way to ensure painless dental treatment. Unfortunately, an irrational fear of dental treatment is instilled in children during an early age through constant reinforcement by the parents, media outlets, or even teachers. The effort to try and scare the child into submission is responsible for a lot of dental anxiety and eventually the refusal to accept treatment.