Sedation dentistry is something many adults really appreciate, but for children it can be a very scary thing. A pediatric sedation dentist may be the appropriate dentist for some children but not for all. Using sedation dentistry for children is appropriate in the following situations:

    When you have an infant with dental care needs
    When you have a child who needs very extensive dental work
    If your child has a very strong gag reflex
    If your child has had a past traumatic experience at the dentist, and does not want to sit still for dental work because of it
    Mentally handicapped children that can't grasp the concept of, or won't, hold still for dental work

Granted, there are going to be many younger patients in the dental care office that are cooperative and manageable without the need for sedation dentistry. But, this is not the case for all children. In fact, there are a significant number of children who cannot tolerate dental care without the use of sedation during these dentistry techniques. If your child is on the edge, sedation may be a good option as it helps ensure the child will be still, and that all dental procedures that are started will be completed and correctly, as the dentist will not have to fight the child to get them to hold still.

A sedation dentist will generally administer local anesthetics such as nitrous oxide to children. This is an option which is extremely safe, and represents the ideal means of making the dental care treatment completely pain free. Most children respond poorly to pain, so sedation is a great way to ensure that they get through the entire dental procedure without a melt down.

Using sedation dentistry for children should not be something you should worry about. While it can be scary, it is reassuring to know that pediatric sedation is a dental specialty that requires two to three more years of training beyond dental school, including practice experience in a hospital environment. Any dentist that has license to practice pediatric sedation dentistry has earned that right through experience, and schooling. Also, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) has very strict guidelines for the use of conscious sedation, deep sedation, and general anesthesia in pediatric dental patients, which get updated frequently, and can help ensure that all precautions are taken. Your dentist will follow a procedure that was designed to ensure no complications with the sedation.

Also, anyone who practices sedation dentistry for children has the opportunity to attend a yearly continuing education course on pediatric sedation to update their knowledge and skills. So, even if your dentist has been practicing for years, it will not mean that their knowledge is outdated.

If you are still concerned about whether or not you should use sedation dentistry for your child, you may want to look for a pediatric sedation dentist that belongs to the AAPD, and that has a lot of experience with this specialty. You can always ask for referrals etc. to help ease your mind.