The safety and comfort of sedation dentistry
Sedation dentistry is nothing to be afraid of! In fact, it is a welcome addition and complement to our kind, skilled, patient, and friendly team at Groat Pediatric Dentistry in San Pedro, California. Our board-certified pediatric dentist, Dr. Christopher Groat, has invested in the training and resources to provide safe,relaxing sedation to fight dental anxiety and fear.
Apprehension about visiting the dentist has no age limit; in fact, children can even feed off the anxieties that their parents or older family members may express about dentistry. As always, it is helpful to role model positive behaviors to inspire trust and comfort with visits to our office. When your child still needs a little help, our range of sedative options can help take that edge off.
Sedation may also be appropriate for children with:
- A tendency to fidget, which can add to the time spent in the treatment chair (and can also pose a safety risk)
- Very sensitive teeth
- An overactive gag reflex
- A history of negative experiences at other dentists’ or doctors’ offices
- Extensive needs for treatment, such as lengthy or complex treatment needs
- Special needs – we have expertise and experience with caring for children with a wide range of physical and cognitive conditions
We can lift these potential barriers to treatment with minimal or deeper sedative options. Generally, more minimal options include “laughing gas” or nitrous oxide and oxygen inhaled through a small nasal mask to induce a state of relaxation. Deeper forms of sedation include intravenous administration of a relaxing medication or general anesthesia.
Dr. Groat will recommend the appropriate method for your child based on factors such as the nature and severity of the dental anxiety, fear, or other physical or emotional challenge to their getting services or treatment at our office. Recommendations also depend on the nature of the treatment, as more invasive treatments generally require deeper sedation.
Whatever the case, rest assured that your child is in excellent hands. We have the training and take the appropriate precautions to support the safest experience with sedation dentistry. We will also provide instructions on preparing and caring for your child before and after treatment and what to expect at every step in the process. Of course, we welcome any questions and concerns that you may have.
Call Groat Pediatric Dentistry in San Pedro, CA, at (310) 832-5133 to learn more. By getting your child comfortable with dental visits early on, they will carry these healthy habits well into adulthood.
